Ms. Phong, a homeroom teacher in Shandong province, implemented an unexpected punishment when a group of 15-year-old male students arrived late for class. Instead of scolding, she instructed them to stand on the podium and dance to the song "Mistake".

To catchy music, the students' awkward moves and trending heart gestures made the entire class erupt in laughter. A video capturing this moment quickly went viral on Douyin, garnering over one million likes.

Some moves performed by this "boy band" made classmates laugh heartily. Photo: Douyin.

Ms. Phong views lateness as a minor offense, believing that harsh punishments can be counterproductive and instill fear in students. "Music and interaction help them feel less embarrassed," she shared. "A gentle reminder is always more effective than criticism."

The mother of one of the students in the video recounted that she and her husband "laughed until they cried" upon hearing their son's story. "Thank you, Teacher Phong, for such a fun punishment," she stated. "Tomorrow, I will wake my son up one hour earlier to avoid being late for school." This approach received significant support from the online community. Some netizens joked that students might become "addicted" to being late just to dance, while other parents expressed hope for their children to have a teacher like Ms. Phong.

"This humane punishment is more effective than making them stand for hours," one netizen commented. "With a loving teacher, students will be joyful and happy."

Recently, the teacher posted a new video showcasing the male students continuing to dance, this time with more complex movements. Ms. Phong humorously dubbed them a "boy band specializing in mistakes," noting that what began as a punishment has evolved into a bonding activity, strengthening the teacher-student relationship. "In a relaxed classroom, children proactively learn and make greater progress," Ms. Phong affirmed. "Happiness and learning never conflict."

Khanh Linh (Source: The Star, SCMP)