Degeneration of teacher ethics: school is not a place for self-interest

Teaching has long been one of the most respected professions in Eastern cultures. Deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture, "respecting teachers and valuing education" is considered one of the country's most noble traditions. Hence, selfishness is not a vocation for educators who only care about their own well-being or money.

Today, in the Hanoi Times' Words on the Street column, we share some opinions on the issues.

A teacher demanded that parents buy her a laptop for use in the classroom. Her irrational demand only came to light when extortion messages in a Zalo group were leaked to Facebook. Even then, the teacher refused to admit her wrongdoing and defiantly challenged the public. As a result, she was suspended for 15 days and, upon her return, banned from teaching for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year.

Another one who verbally abused and punished students for not attending her tutoring sessions was disciplined by her school. Meanwhile, another of his/her colleagues who physically assaulted a student was reassigned to administrative duties. These incidents, though isolated, have provoked deep public anger.

In their moments of anger, or ignorance of the rules, or perhaps due to a lack of ethical self-awareness, these teachers trampled not only on the educational rules but also on the basic moral standards expected of them.

Those are unfortunate cases, but they are also blameworthy because their actions have seriously tarnished the teaching profession, one of the most honorable professions in Eastern culture.

Teachers have always held a special place in society. They are the ones who build character and guide generations of future leaders. The Vietnamese proverb "If you want to cross the river, build a bridge. If you want your children to be knowledgeable, love their teachers" perfectly encapsulates the reverence for educators.

Teachers are often regarded as second parents, as students spend almost 20 years under their guidance. In the classroom, teachers not only impart knowledge but also serve as role models, shaping the character of their students and guiding them to become productive, well-rounded individuals.

However, some teachers seek to profit from this responsibility by engaging in inappropriate behavior unworthy of their role as educators. In recent years, there have been disturbing incidents such as teachers asking parents to fund the purchase of personal laptops, punishing or humiliating students for not attending private lessons, and even physically abusing first graders. Some teachers have become overly "entitled" in their sense of power, leading to these deplorable incidents.

These educators seem to believe that because they are directly responsible for the pupils' education, parents will naturally revere them and comply with their sometimes insatiable demands without question. Some have even resorted to corporal punishment, believing that it reinforces their authority over students. But in today's digital age, with social media and technology so ubiquitous, any overstepping of a teacher's boundaries can quickly be exposed online.

Hoping that their children would be favored in the classroom, parents began giving gifts to teachers on holidays and other special occasions. If the teacher was a woman, parents often had to consider gifts for March 8 (International Women's Day) and October 20 (Vietnamese Women's Day). While it is a nice tradition to give gifts to teachers to show appreciation, in recent years the practice has been twisted to literally become a form of bribery.

It's disheartening to see that even in a modern society where teachers' salaries have increased, these practices continue, tarnishing the dignity of the profession. Such behavior not only undermines the integrity of Vietnam's education sector but also sets a bad example for the younger generation.

Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Psychological Education, remarked that the misconduct of these educators is an unfortunate chapter for the education sector. He expressed his support for the severe punishments handed down, stressing the need for disciplinary measures commensurate with the infractions committed in order to serve as a deterrent.

"I hope that teachers and schools can learn from these incidents and use them as opportunities for deep reflection. Administrators must also take a more proactive role in regularly monitoring classroom activities to quickly identify and prevent similar incidents in the future," he said.

I support the permanent removal of individuals who fail to uphold the values and ethics of the teaching profession. When incidents like these are exposed, it signals that parents are no longer willing to tolerate the abuse of authority by some teachers.

Throughout history, progress has been achieved through strong discipline and accountability, with zero tolerance for misconduct. This is critical to the advancement of society, especially in education.

If students truly respect and admire their teachers, let them express these feelings freely. Parents can help guide their children in showing appreciation, but they should not enable or corrupt teachers with material incentives.

Teachers must also be better compensated. As educators who are essentially selling their intellectual labor, teachers deserve higher salaries and better support to ensure that they remain focused on their noble mission without succumbing to material temptations.