A 9th grade male student in Ninh Binh was surrounded and beaten by a group of 7 7th grade students, using belts to hit continuously, punching and kicking right on the road.
Around, many students stood watching, cheering, and even filming clips.
After the incident, the families of the students ganged up to request payment of hospital fees and additional compensation of 16 million VND; the victim's family requested 90 million VND.
But whether it is 16 or 90 million VND or more, it is also an agreement on medical expenses, and compensation money cannot be used as a way to "pay the price" for violent acts.
Even monetary fines are not a way to prevent school violence.
School violence is not just material damage, it is mental harm, it is obsession, it is a deviation in the perception of the perpetrator and even the witnesses.
Those things cannot be "converted" into money.
What is more worrying is that this is not a spontaneous scuffle between two individuals, but an organized act, many people beat one person, some people film clips, some people cheer.
The children not only beat their friends, but also consider it "content" to share. This deviation, if not corrected in time, will continue to spread.
Today is hitting friends, tomorrow may be more dangerous behaviors.
The law has clearly stipulated the act of infringing upon the health of others, including minors, and there are appropriate handling measures. It is necessary to do it strictly and thoroughly to deter them.
However, the handling after the incident occurred is still the tip of the iceberg.
The root lies in education, first of all family.
Children do not naturally develop violent behavior. How to behave and resolve conflicts is largely learned from the living environment.
If families are lax, lack direction, or even condone wrongdoings, it is very difficult to expect children to have the right awareness.
Next is the school, in addition to knowledge, the school must teach life skills, teach how to control emotions and respect others.
Signs of conflict and disagreement among students need to be detected early and intervened in time. We cannot let things simmer and then break out into violence.
Furthermore, social networks, if not oriented, easily turn deviant behaviors into "trends". Filming clips, posting them online, receiving attention, inadvertently creates distorted motivation.
School violence is not a new story, but the fact that it cannot be completely eliminated shows that we have not handled it correctly and sufficiently.
Preventing violence through education and handling according to the provisions of law cannot be "resolved" with a few numbers on the negotiating table.
