School students were calling for a bill of rights, The Canberra Times reported 35 years ago today.
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Student representatives from 32 ACT schools held a conference on students' rights and the agenda covered issues ranging from corporal punishment to discrimination and physical contact between the sexes.
Phillip College student Nadine Flood said the conference was encouraging and showed students were ready to be involved in issues which affected them.
The conference heard descriptions of punishments given to students.
In one high school, year-duty was used as punishment for students holding hands.
The conference heard of discrimination on the basis of hairstyles.
One girl said she had had so-called "offensive" jewellery confiscated and then sold for school funds.
Attendees agreed that all students should be treated as equals, without discrimination on sex, racial or religious grounds.
Other issues raised challenged the private and public school system.
It was agreed that students should be able to "have a say" on issues affecting them and have the opportunity to have representation on school boards equal to parents and staff.
