A local high school in Huairen county in Shanxi province has come under fire for what many consider to be excessive punishment for a student who used the bathroom late at night.

According to the Huairen Education Bureau, the incident occurred on Sept 10 when a first-year student at Huairen Yundong High School used the bathroom at 11:10 pm. As a consequence, the student was required to self-fund the printing of 1,000 copies of a self-criticizing document for distribution throughout the school.

The punishment, which included a severe warning and a five-point deduction from the class's moral education score, sparked widespread controversy online. Critics argued that the penalty was disproportionate to the offense, particularly considering the student's young age.

The school defended its actions, stating that the student had violated school rules by using the bathroom after the designated time. They emphasized that the rules were clearly communicated to students and that the punishment was intended to serve as a deterrent.

However, the education bureau disagreed, stating that the punishment was inappropriate and ordered the school to refund the printing fee to the student. The bureau has also launched an investigation into the incident.