Reports about schools defying government regulations and improperly punishing students continue to make the news, raising the question of how endemic the situation is. An investigative report released last week by the Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy revealed that 72.5 percent of the nation’s senior-high schools and 95.6 percent of junior-high schools punish students for wearing unapproved winter clothes, and in many cases confiscate essential and common items such as scarves and beanies. After reports in January that many schools were restricting students’ winter clothing — even though the Ministry of Education in August last year made it illegal to