Determination the Views of High School Students on the School and Their Feelings about Their Schools

The aim of this research is to determine the views of high school students on school, their feelings about their schools and the reasons for their feelings. The model of the research is descriptive and qualitative research. As research focuses on the phenomenon of school, phenomenology is used from qualitative research designs. The study group of the research consisted of seventy, 11th grade students studying in eight high schools in Düzce Central District in the 2015-2016 academic year. Maximum diversity sampling method among purposive sampling methods was used in the selection of high schools. The data were collected by semi structured interview form. Content analysis method was used for data analysis. It was observed that the majority of students had positive perceptions related to school. Students think that the school is a place that informs and develops, reassures and reaches the target. However, for some students, the school has a negative meaning. These students explained the school as a place where they made some requirements such as getting up early, doing homework, taking the exam, staying at a place all day. When the students examined how they felt in the schools they studied, the majority expressed themselves as lucky, happy, safe, free and belonging to school in their schools. On the other hand, it was determined that there were students who felt unfortunate, unhappy, alone, insecure, not free and not belonging to school in their schools. Although negative perceptions and feelings towards the school are lower, the fact that even a single student has a negative perception and feeling in the education system is an issue that should be taken into consideration by educators and decision-makers. According to the system approach in education, all elements and stakeholders that make up the system for success of the system affect each other. For this reason, the opinions of all the stakeholders that make up the system should be included in the process to improve and develop the system