After two shocking murder cases in Thanh Hoa, another tragedy struck in Cam Lac Commune (Ha Tinh), when a ninth-grade student died after being hit on the head.

“The incident stemmed from a personal conflict, so the two male students agreed to meet by the riverside to settle the dispute but were discovered and stopped by local residents. Later, on his way home, student L.K.M. was chased and struck on the head by L.V.P, resulting in severe injuries and his subsequent death,” said an official of Cam Lac Commune.

These heartbreaking incidents have left the public deeply concerned. School violence is no longer limited to simple quarrels or scuffles. In many cases, students tend to “fight to the end” until their opponents collapse and are unable to resist.

When violence becomes the default solution 

Following recent deadly school fights, a secondary school homeroom teacher in Hung Yen said: “It’s terrifying.” She said she was “stunned” by the students’ calm reactions after committing such acts.

“These students didn’t panic, flee, or seek help. They just walked away as if nothing has happened,” she said.

The teacher explained that this behavior stems from students’ lack of emotional management skills and their inability to resolve conflicts verbally. When insulted or provoked, violence becomes the quickest “language” to respond.

Technology and social media have also fueled this behavior by spreading “behavioral models” that young people easily imitate. Videos of group assaults and “revenge attacks” go viral so often that students begin to view violence as normal, even as a way to assert dominance.

The teacher shared that she has personally encountered students who carry knives in their backpacks “just in case.”

“This is terrifying because it shows they’ve accepted violence as a regular solution,” she said.

She suggested integrating emotional education and conflict resolution skills into the official curriculum, not just through slogans or occasional extracurricular activities. She also proposed including practical legal education in schools such as mock trials, so students can understand the real consequences of violent actions.

Associate Professor Tran Thu Huong, a psychology expert, said that violent behavior among students stems from multiple causes, with the explosion of information technology acting as a driving force. In the vast "virtual world," many behaviors, perceptions, and emotions with negative or aggressive characteristics are left uncontrolled.

Frequent exposure to violent videos and conflict-promoting content gradually leads children to accept aggressive behavior as normal or even justifiable.

It is essential to regulate students’ participation in the online environment and to strengthen information censorship on digital platforms.

“In addition, legal aspects should be reviewed to ensure stronger protection for students and establish a legal framework that effectively deters violent behavior. Only then can we prevent such tragic incidents,” Associate Professor Tran Thu Huong said.

A distorted belief: ‘Violence establishes order’

Associate Professor Pham Manh Ha, a psychology expert at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, noted that school violence is not an isolated issue but reflects deeper problems in family, school, and social value systems.

He explained that bullies at school are often victims themselves of domestic violence or of witnessing adults use power and force to impose their will. Such experiences lead to a distorted belief that violence is a tool to “establish order” or prove one’s strength.

“At puberty, emotions often override reason. Without proper guidance, children easily act impulsively,” he said. If their environment lacks respectful role models or spaces for dialogue, violence becomes their default choice, a way to intimidate, vent frustration, or assert status.”

He also emphasized the harmful effects of viral fight videos on social media. When such clips are viewed as entertainment, they normalize and even glorify deviant behavior, increasing the risk of copycat violence.

According to Ha, preventing school violence requires rebuilding a value system where every child feels respected, protected, and is given the chance to grow in a healthy way. “Only when children learn to love instead of punish, to listen instead of impose rules, and to respect instead of control, can violence be eliminated.”

Schools play a crucial role in this process. Education is not only about knowledge transfer but also about “teaching how to be human.” Life values and social skills must be embedded in all school activities, from classroom lessons to extracurricular events, and in everyday interactions between teachers and students.

Thanh Hung