Opinions of Secondary School Students on the Effects of Disciplinary Regulations and Practices on the Freedom of Thought and Expression

Abstract

Disciplinary rules are necessary for students to benefit from education and training activities without any problems or shortcomings in the school environment. Governed by regulation in Turkey, these rules prescribe such penalties as reprimand, short-term suspension, changing of schools, or exclusion from formal education institutions. Conversely, various national and international legal arrangements define children‟s fundamental rights and freedoms. Students below the age of 18 are also entitled to fundamental rights and freedoms by reason of such legal arrangements. One of these arrangements recognises the freedom of thought and expression. The children's/students' freedom of thought and expression within the school environment, as well as the limitations thereof, are of a disputed nature. In light of such disputes, the problem addressed by the present study concerns the evaluation of the effects of disciplinary regulations and practices on students‟ freedom of thought and expression in line with students‟ own opinions