Unlawful Conduct by Final-Year Secondary School Students during the Czech “Last Bell” Tradition

Keywords: Last Bell, begging, tradition, public order, civil coexistence, administrative offences

Abstract: The article examines whether final-year secondary school students may engage in unlawful conduct during the Czech “Last Bell” tradition, particularly in connection with practices used to compel financial contributions. Activities taking place on school premises can be regulated by school rules, and typical breaches result in non-legal disciplinary consequences. School rules, however, do not, in principle, apply to students’ conduct outside school premises. Municipalities may regulate Last Bell activities through municipal by-laws aimed at safeguarding public order. The article argues that the Last Bell is closer to begging (which is commonly regulated by municipal by-laws) than to busking, but nevertheless, it proposes that municipalities regulate Last Bell activities separately. The text also addresses costumes and concludes that the current legal framework also regulates the wearing of uniforms of the armed forces and law-enforcement bodies, as well as the carrying of airsoft guns during Last Bell activities in public spaces. Finally, the article classifies certain conduct as administrative offences against civil coexistence (interpersonal relations).