Honor Code

A student who lies to another person has broken trust with that person but has also broken the collective trust that we hold dear as a school.  A school that is full of suspicion and distrust is not a healthy fulfilling environment. 

A student who copies another student's homework has cheated himself of a learning experience.  Students should do their own homework, and not work in groups unless instructed to do so by the teacher.  A student should assume that each homework assignment may be graded. 

Due to the open nature of the school environment as wel as the relative material well-being of students and faculty alike at DWS, stealing is seen as a most sensless and egregious breach of faith, trust, integrity, and personal responsibility and may be dealt with even more severely that lying or cheating.  

The Honor Code expresses the ideal of an agreement that implies faith and trust in each other.  It also expresses an attitude against violation of that faith and trust.  Each student will be expected to sign the following pledge: 

I, _______________, pledge on m honor as a Deerfield-Windsor student not to accept or give any unauthorized help whatsoever in class or out of class in reference to the work required of me.  I shall not lie, steal, cheat, forge another's name or commit plagiarism in any form.  

Procedure

1.  Split into small groups to review the Honor Code.

2.  Have each group detail a likely scenario that would be an infraction to the honor code.

3. Ask each team to express what they believe is the purpose for incorporating the various values in the honor code.

Discussion

1. What is the purpose of a student honor code?

2. Why do students need to know its contents?

3. What parts of the honor code are most relevant to your daily activities in school?

4. What is the process if you break the Honor Code?