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Zoey Zhang

A teacher in eastern China has turned her tardy students into an online sensation after transforming their punishment into a viral dance performance.
When several 15-year-old boys from Dezhou, Shandong province arrived late for class, their teacher, surnamed Feng, came up with a creative and lighthearted idea.
Instead of a typical reprimand, she made the boys stand on a podium and shake their bodies to the 2009 hit Mistake.
For many young listeners, the catchy melody and sincere yet somewhat outdated lyrics struck a nostalgic chord.

When the boys made the heart gesture, their classmates erupted in laughter.
Feng told the mainland media that lateness was a minor issue and harsh punishments could make children fear making mistakes.
“Music and interaction can ease their embarrassment. A gentle reminder is always warmer than criticism,” she said.
Feng added that the boys were cooperative and looked adorable while dancing.
The video went viral on mainland social media, attracting more than one million likes.
One netizen said: “This humane punishment is more effective than making them stand for hours. With a loving teacher, students are happy and joyful.”

Another suggested they form a wrongdoers boy band, joking: “I am afraid they will get addicted to dancing.”
Many also praised the boys for looking like stars.
The mother of one of the boys said: “My son told me about this, and my husband and I laughed to tears. Thank you, Teacher Feng, for such a fun punishment. Tomorrow, I will wake him up an hour earlier to avoid being late.”
On December 17, Feng posted a new video of the boys dancing again, this time with more complex moves.
She captioned it: “The wrongdoers boy band is officially here. What started as punishment has become a fun ‘reward’ for them.”
A netizen then commented, saying that they hoped their child would have a teacher like Feng.
To which Feng replied: “Happiness and learning never conflict. In a relaxed classroom, kids are more proactive in learning and improving.”

Her social media bio highlights Feng’s six years of teaching experience and her goal to be a “warm, multitalented educator”.
Some online users noticed that the thoughtful teacher had set up a rack in the classroom for students to hang their heavy winter coats.
Creative and compassionate teaching methods continue to garner attention in China.
A primary teacher from Shandong, surnamed Zhang, bought gifts with her own money and held auctions, encouraging children to earn stamps for good behaviour in exchange for prizes.
Known for her talks on sex education and anti-bullying, Zhang has more than 1.2 million followers online.
In January, a teacher in central China used artificial intelligence technology to make professional portraits, inspiring pupils to chase their dreams.


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China teacher turns tardy boys into ‘wrongdoers boy band’; dance video garners million likes

A teacher in China has turned a group of tardy boys into a “wrongdoers boy band” and made them dance on a podium to outdated music as punishment. Photo: Douyin

The tardy boys get ready to perform on the podium as their classmates look on. Photo: Douyin

Some of the moves the “boy band” made as they sang made their fellow pupils erupt with laughter. Photo: Douyin

School pupils in China. Creative teaching methods are popular in the country. Photo: Shutterstock

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People & Culture

‘Multitalented’ fun-loving educator makes boys late for lessons perform on classroom podium to delight of fellow pupils


‘Multitalented’ fun-loving educator makes boys late for lessons perform on classroom podium to delight of fellow pupils.


China education

Children in China

China teacher turns tardy boys into ‘wrongdoers boy band’; dance video garners million likes

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘Multitalented’ fun-loving educator makes boys late for lessons perform on classroom podium to delight of fellow pupils

‘Multitalented’ fun-loving educator makes boys late for lessons perform on classroom podium to delight of fellow pupils