It's not uncommon to hear of children misbehaving in class. When it's time to sit still and listen to the teacher, they are rowdy and loud, and they love chatting with classmates.
Of course, if this kind of behavior persists, the teacher must take disciplinary action to teach the child a lesson.
In a Tokyo classroom in 2009, a film crew witnessed what this kind of punishment looks like. The seemingly stern teacher reprimands a student for misbehaving and says that he will not be riding the raft he and his team of classmates have planned and built over the past couple of months as part of a project.
The boy is reduced to tears, standing in front of the classroom as his teacher tells him the punishment.
But one of his classmates doesn't agree and voices his opinion. In Japan, it's dangerous to challenge an authority figure, especially someone older.
The boy voices his opinion: His friend should still be able to ride the raft after months of hard work, and that it is his team's decision to include or exclude the misbehaving boy. He pleads with the teacher for forgiveness and to respectfully reconsider his decision.
Soon, other classmates stand up to defend their classmate. They, too, are in tears because they are scared that they will receive a punishment of the same kind.
But the teacher, having heard and understood the brave students, congratulates them for articulately defending their case. He allows his misbehaving student to rejoin his team and ride the raft!
Please SHARE if you believe that the kindness in kids' hearts can teach us all a lesson every now and then!
