Obeying Honor Codes

David brooks article “honor code” deals with boys in the education system having to conform to an unbalanced system that favors girls over them. The article “honor code” explains that the way the education system is made only fits a certain type of person,” The education system has become culturally cohesive, rewarding and encouraging a certain sort of person: one who is nurturing, collaborative, disciplined, neat, studious, industrious and ambitious. People who don’t fit this cultural ideal respond by disengaging and rebelling...many of the people who don't fit in are boys” (David Brooks) The education system only appeals to people with certain characteristics, the people who don't fit the systems ideal image are forced to conform or fail.

Honor codes have been a strong subject of dispute over the last few years. Whether to hold students accountable for their own actions, and allow them to control the cheating in a school is, in all regards, a major decision that could potentially be detrimental to a school’s society and reputation. However, the rewards for a successful honor code are exponentially higher than the cost. Schools should always have some form of honor code in place, whether it be something like a signed contract at the beginning of each semester paired with an honor court to hold violators accountable, or something as simple as a statement of trust on a worksheet.

Honor codes and codes of conduct have existed for about as long as systems of institutionalized education have, as they exist for the betterment of the students. Honor codes often consist of a set of enumerated standards that the aforementioned institution holds its students to. Without them, students’ cheating would go unregulated, which would overall just harm themselves, since it would be detrimental to their learning experience. The use of outside advantage to garner better grades would make it harder for the students to gain the help that they need, as well as allowing students to proceed without actually

An individual might perceive the honor code system as creating a toleration for the school environment. This idea can be seen in Source A, where Aaron Bacall’s cartoon as stated “a spy can greatly improve the honor code” (Becall). This could possibly work, but might not hold up during a test. Observing and monitoring students through technology defeats the purpose of an honor code protecting their integrity. Some schools go to extreme lengths to enforce a code of honor upon their students.

The conflict of whether or not honor codes should be established has been brought up again due to an increase in cheating and collaborating on tests and school work. Recently, a surplus of students have been caught cheating in unexpected places, like Harvard and the University of Virginia. Those colleges are considering using honor codes to counteract the surge of cheating that has arisen. Although there is currently a cheating problem that needs to be dealt with, incorporating honor codes into high schools and colleges is not the most effective way to solve the cheating problem, and will not solve the cheating problem indefinitely. It is very difficult to change a person’s personality and their morals, no matter what paper they sign, but there are ways to make people’s convictions stronger. One of which is student interaction. Like many people, students have a “follow the herd” nature and want to fit in with the crowd. If many students discourage cheating, the “crowd” may choose to not cheat in fear of being shunned. Student interaction is much more effective than honor codes, and is a much less drastic change.

If a college campus harbors an environent where cheating is seen as acceptable and an activity many people participate in, even students with correct morals and no desire to cheat themselves are less likely to report fellow students for unsavory behavior. This can also go a step further and that same student who failed to confront a peer for cheating, may give in to the school’s atmosphere and start cheating themselves. This makes them all the less likely to report other students for fear of appearing hypocritical and/or being reported themselves. A study on honor code effectiveness was completed by Sally Sledge and Pam Pringle at a small public university (Source E). Their results showed that only 8% of students would report a fellow student for cheating. Even more surprisingly, 40% of students anonymously stated that they had “violated the honor code and not been caught”. This points to a very cheater-friendly attitude at this particular school and shows that the honor system is not very effective in this

This outcome of the honor codes serve the best of both worlds. Honor codes are good for a student body because students begin to follow what is right based on influence. Following what’s right is an essential skill to learn for the running of a good society. In addition, it is also stated that honor codes can be used to end/lower

Honor codes are the embodiment of two things – trust and integrity. When schools maintain these honor codes, it gives off many advantages. “Unlike the majority of colleges where proctoring of tests and exams is the responsibility of the faculty and/or administration, many schools with academic honor codes allow students to take their exams without proctors present, relying on peer monitoring to control cheating.” (Source F) By allowing non-monitored tests, the honor code instills a better relationship between staff and students. When a student is having a problem with the class, they will more likely talk to the teacher rather than resort to copying. The code makes staff more trust worthy.

Many schools tend to have problems with cheating and trust between students and teachers. Many schools have introduced honor codes which have either significantly improve these issues or have had no effect. Honor codes, if effectively integrated and properly interpreted, can help my high school minimize serious cheating, increase student morality, and improve trust. Honor codes can help students become more honest and make the classroom less vulnerable to dishonesty. An online article from the perspective of Alyssa Vangelli, a senator, establishes the way she perceived honor codes by illustrating the idea that “reminders of these moral values [give the student] a responsibility to perform honestly in the school environment” (Source B).

It is proven that the honor code doesn't always work in full effect.Things Don't usually work in full effect at Rockville High school unless there are follow up consequences. Dirmeyer and Cartwright take their position on the topic stating , “our honor code is strictly enforced,and the enforcement is handled by an all-student court.Students convicted of lying or cheating can expect to receive punishment ranging from suspension to exclusion.”(Source C).Rockville high school administration can always revise this rule.Instead of students being suspended for cheating and lying there could be a different punishment. Let's face it,nobody likes to feel like a complete prisoner.It wouldn't hurt for the administers to take action by grabbing ideas

Abiding by an honor code is nothing new to me. I currently follow the Lake Travis High School football honor code, which demands a life of cleanliness and stresses no consumption of intoxicating substances, as well as academic honesty. My football coaches have instilled a great sense of pride in me; being a Lake Travis football player means holding myself to a higher standard, because I represent both a prestigious organization, my school and a team of other individuals.  I have proudly lived up to these honor codes and led my team by being the first to sign up for the voluntary drug testing program at my school called Leaders for Life.  I am also fortunate to have parents that have always been strict in making sure I stick to my morals, even

To me, the primary reason Charlotte Country Day has an honor code is to keep students equal. The honor code keeps students equal, disallowing students to help each other during tests and before and after tests. By this, I mean one student sharing information about a test to a student who has not taken it yet. The honor code and council also keep students equal because there is a set of standards everyone must abide to. The honor council then assesses these standards and applies them to all students equally when in an hearing. The honor code and honor council is also important to keep students honest. While these standards are not upheld 100% of the time, the vast majority of students try their best to abide by the code.

The current regulations clearly define cheating, plagiarism and the consequences associated with being caught cheating and requires that students only read through the document and sign that you understand the consequences of cheating. Its simplicity contributes to its effectiveness in deterring cheating among students without the added tension of the possibility of stirring conflict between others. Even if an honor code with a focus on student-enforced reporting of cheaters, it’s unlikely that any students would actively choose to betray their

Questions like, “Is this their own work? How can students and faculty diminish the amount of cheating in PCHS? What needs to be completed to establish an honor code? How will the code be maintained in the following years?” All these questions address the fact that cheating needs to be monitored. In source C, the authors of the newspaper said that, “Our honor code is strictly enforced, and the enforcement is handled by and all-student court.” That’s why Mr. Windnagle’s students decided that the honor code should be written up by the student government, where those students can collaborate and discuss what’s best for PCHS students. By doing so, the amount of cheating will gradually decline because students have to oblige to the rule; especially if the faculty enforces the

     Throughout my years at Xavier and beyond I intend to follow the Xavier Honor Code so I can become a cooperative and responsible person. By being a student at Xavier I notice I will have to take responsibility of my actions and faults. In order for Xavier to trust me and to allow me to continue attending their school, I will have to follow their rules and be respectful. Not only should I do these things, but also I have to respect myself in order to respect others. In following the Honor Code at Xavier I will learn more about others, the school, and myself. The Honor Code will impact my academic and campus life because it will lead my way to the