Don't hurt the children!

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - When my daughter was in middle school, she was gloomy for a whole week and refused to go to class. She attended the same school and had many of the same teachers as her older brother. She enjoyed that, but also felt a little sad about it.

The problem stemmed from my assignment to lead a group presentation on an essay. I tried my best, but I didn't receive cooperation from my group members. The presentation I led didn't go well. When the teacher gave feedback to help my group improve, whether intentionally or unintentionally, she commented that my thinking and methodology were far inferior to my older brother's, making it difficult for me to get into a prestigious school. I tried my best, but my efforts weren't recognized, and I ended up being compared to my older brother. Some classmates also took advantage of the teacher's comments to tease me, which hurt me deeply. I chose a very negative response: I became silent and withdrawn.

During the formative years of childhood, children are often heavily influenced by adults. In the school environment, teachers are seen as "gods" to the children. Every word they say has a significant impact on the students. Teachers' comments, whether positive or negative, can sometimes be encouraging, but they can also negatively affect children. My family had to put in a lot of effort with various mental health therapies to restore balance and strengthen my child's mental well-being.

Discipline in schools is crucial to prevent students from crossing boundaries. However, implementing disciplinary measures in schools must also prioritize moral governance, requiring teachers to not only impart knowledge but also foster tolerance, understanding, and the ability to inspire and nurture children's souls. Children need encouragement and motivation alongside appropriate and timely criticism. I am not alone in hoping for more positive aspects in the educational environment.

However, in recent days, public opinion has been heated, stemming from the story of a high school principal in Dak Lak telling a 12th-grade student, "You won't pass the exam even if you take it." And recently, during the 10th-grade entrance exam in Nghe An, an invigilator made the remark to a candidate: "Why study so much when you'll end up working as a laborer or factory worker?" These are highly reprehensible words!

Even if it were true, it would be unacceptable to say things that hurt children's feelings. Studying and taking exams are students' rights, and we must respect and encourage them. Such hurtful statements, no matter how justified, are unacceptable and need to be corrected.

Hanh Nhien

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dung-lam-ton-thuong-con-tre-251311.htm