INJUSTICE IN SCHOOL

students’ conceptions

Abstract

This paper presents a research carried out with fourth graders and freshmen in private and public schools. The research aimed at identifying students’ conceptions about injustice that happens in school and in the classroom. We have applied a questionnaire regarding the definition of injustice and the identification of injustice in school and in the classroom, besides a 5-point scale which asked students to evaluate the frequency of 35 situations concerning injustice. Results have shown meaningful differences among the students in the grades under study: school seems less unfair to fourth graders than for freshmen. However, both groups refer to legal and retributive injustice committed among students, and among teachers and students, as the most frequent occurrences in school.