Reports of teachers physically punishing students are increasing in China. Recently, a boarding school in Huairen County, Shanxi province, faced backlash for penalizing a student who used the bathroom late at night. The incident occurred at Yundong Secondary School when a Form Three student broke the school’s curfew by using the bathroom at 11:10 pm. According to a teacher, the school strictly prohibited students from wandering the dormitory after 10:45 pm, even to use the toilet.
As a consequence, the student was required to write a “deep self-reflection” letter and make 1,000 copies of it to distribute to classmates as punishment, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Additionally, five points were deducted from the class’s monthly discipline score. In his reflection, the student acknowledged his mistake and expressed regret for disturbing his classmates’ sleep.
The severe punishment sparked outrage online, with many criticizing the school for its excessive actions. Some compared the school to a “prison” due to its strict regulations. Critics argued that the penalty was disproportionate considering the student’s age and basic human needs. Many voiced concerns about the impact of such harsh punishment on the student’s well-being and self-esteem.
Responding to the backlash, the Education Department of Huairen instructed the school to review its discipline policies and interact with students in a compassionate manner. The school was also required to reimburse the student for the costs of copying the self-reflection essay. To prevent similar incidents, all schools in the region were advised to implement reasonable and humane discipline policies.
This incident is part of a concerning trend of student abuse by teachers in China, despite a government ban on corporal punishment in schools since 1986. Last year, a nine-year-old girl underwent emergency surgery after allegedly being hit on the head with a metal ruler by a teacher.
