The Largest Student Movement in the Early Turkish Republican Era: 1924 Teacher Training Schools Boycott

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates the largest student movement in the early Turkish Republican era, the 1924 boycott at the teacher training schools, through the publications of the Turkish press, Turkish presidency archives and the literature. Due to the one year extension of the study period for teacher training schools in the 1924–1925 academic years in Turkey, the current students expected to be moved to an upper grade in the transition process to the new system, which was not the case. As a result, there were 13 teacher training schools for boys in 1924, and the students at these schools boycotted classes starting on 24 November 1924 because they were subject to injustice. Although the boycott did not end in favour of the students, they proved the ability to use their rights as the active citizens the Republican administration desired.