<![CDATA[Pendidikan karakter memainkan peran penting dalam pembentukan nilai moral, sosial, dan emosional peserta didik, terutama dalam menanamkan disiplin dan tanggung jawab. Namun, meningkatnya pelanggaran aturan dan rendahnya kesadaran sosial di kalangan siswa menunjukkan bahwa pendidikan karakter di sekolah belum sepenuhnya efektif. Untuk menanggapi kondisi tersebut, sekolah menggunakan pendekatan melalui hukuman, yang dimaknai bukan sebagai tindakan represif, tetapi sebagai sarana edukatif dan reflektif untuk membimbing siswa memahami kesalahan mereka dan bertanggung jawab atas tindakan yang dilakukan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami pengalaman siswa dan guru terkait penerapan hukuman sebagai bagian dari pendidikan karakter, serta dampaknya terhadap pembentukan disiplin dan tanggung jawab sosial. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian fenomenologis. Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan teknik pengumpulan data berupa observasi dan wawancara terhadap 10 siswa SMK. Data dianalisis secara interaktif dengan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan kesimpulan/verifikasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hukuman yang diberikan secara proporsional dan mendidik dapat meningkatkan pemahaman siswa tentang aturan dan konsekuensi tindakan, serta menumbuhkan kesadaran akan tanggung jawab belajar. Implikasi penelitian ini menekankan pentingnya peran strategis konselor sekolah dalam mengintegrasikan hukuman edukatif sebagai instrumen reflektif dalam layanan bimbingan dan konseling untuk pengembangan karakter dan disiplin siswa yang berkelanjutan.Abstract: Character education plays a crucial role in shaping students’ moral, social, and emotional values, particularly in fostering discipline and responsibility. However, the increasing number of rule violations and the low level of social awareness among students indicate that character education in schools has not yet been fully effective. One approach that has been implemented is punishment, understood not as a repressive measure, but as an educational and reflective tool to guide students in understanding their mistakes and taking responsibility for their actions. This study aims to explore the experiences of students and teachers regarding the implementation of punishment as part of character education, as well as its impact on the development of discipline and social responsibility. The research employs a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. Data were collected through observations and interviews with 10 vocational high school (SMK) students. The data were analyzed interactively through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification. The findings reveal that punishment administered in a proportional and educational manner can enhance students’ understanding of rules and the consequences of their actions, while also fostering awareness of academic responsibility. The implications of this study highlight the strategic role of school counselors in integrating educational punishment as a reflective instrument within guidance and counseling services to support the sustainable development of students’ character and discipline.]]>
