As an education administrator who has worked in schools for many years, I have the opportunity to observe quite clearly the movements of the education environment in the digital age.
One of the most obvious changes is the emergence and popularity of groups and classes on social networks - where information is transmitted faster and more conveniently, but also poses many challenges regarding behavior, tact and limits that need to be respected in education.
In many classrooms today, class groups on social networks have become a familiar part of educational life. Class schedules, homework, neat reminders, urgent notifications... all just need a text message to be grasped by parents.
From the perspective of classroom management, this is a convenient tool, even indispensable in the context of a large number of students, teachers under a lot of pressure and parents increasingly wanting to "know right away, know enough" about their children.
However, also in that convenient space, many thought-provoking situations have occurred.
Many teachers shared that if students' violations are not brought to the group, parents will think that teachers are not close enough; if only mentioned separately, it is feared that it is not enough to deter, does not create discipline. But when brought to the group, there are cases of backlash because it causes injury to students and parents.
When a student is named for being late for school, forgetting homework, violating regulations..., that mistake immediately goes beyond the direct teacher-student relationship, to enter the observation zone of dozens, even hundreds of other parents. Many parents share that when their children are named in the group, they also feel ashamed of other parents. That feeling, if not controlled, can easily turn into anger and be poured on children.
In terms of education, the "collectiveization" of personal mistakes also leaves another silent consequence. When students witness their friends being publicly named, they do not necessarily learn discipline, but learn how to avoid mistakes by remaining silent, covering up, or coping. Classrooms at that time are no longer a safe place to try and make mistakes - something that is very necessary for maturity - but become a space to maintain the image, maintain face.
Many modern education studies agree on one principle: effective discipline does not harm the dignity of learners. Teachers can be completely strict, even very strict, but still humane. Individual errors should be discussed separately, clearly, with a direction to correct mistakes. Parents need to be informed, but through discreet and respectful channels. With the collective class, teachers can draw common lessons, common reminders, build common rules - no need to name, no need to "set an example" with shame.
Education has never been an easy job. In the digital age, when all information is only one touch apart, teachers need more internal slowness to ask themselves: does this action help students improve, or just help themselves "do the job"? When that question is always asked, the class will return to its true role: a place to connect and accompany, not a place to turn personal mistakes into collective pressure.
It's a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit.
