The Honor Code System : Is It Only A Void?

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

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

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.

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

The one part of the honor code that was a staple of controversy was the end that says no cadet will tolerate any action that violates the honor code. This implied that if you knew anything about a violation that you were just as liable as the offender himself. This part of the code was troubling for many considering you were dealing with comrades who were training next to you in close quarters and with serious future implications. This can be a very precarious situation for many and by holding students to it can promote more honor code violations. The problem here is the fact that anyone can make mistakes and in the situations involving the honor code West Point has taken the honor out of supporting your comrades as well as the honor of admitting to your mistakes. They have done this by issuing expulsion to all violators. It can be said that someone who can admit to their mistakes knowing the consequences that will ensue is of a stronger moral background than one who may not violate the code in the first place or someone who does not get caught. (Note: the current honor code allows for reacceptance to the academy after violations and

The Webb honor code teaches people how to live their life by giving the followers of this code a sense of right and wrong. A quote from the Webb Honor Code in Paragraph 3 states, “I acknowledge and honor my teacher’s need to know that my work, and my classmates’, is authentic, to maintain the integrity of learning at The Webb Schools.” For the followers of the Webb Honor Code this shows them that they should have honor and integrity and never turn in work that is not authentic. Honor and integrity is important because these two things are what people look for in a good person. Another quote from the Webb Honor Code in Paragraph 1 states, “Rather than turn to a source like SparkNotes (even “for ideas”), which is never permitted, I will choose

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.

Rules governing academic integrity among students and schools is a practice deeply entrenched in the American education system and that of those around the world. Likely beginning at the University of Virginia in the United States during 1842 as a way to discourage cheating, dishonesty, and plagiarism, it soon spread throughout the nation. Today, the overwhelming majority of schools in the US, from elementary to collegiate, have their own form of a honor code. Among these schools is Port Charlotte High School, PCHS abbreviated, whose own code of conduct is based heavily on students being educated about the effects that their cheating will have on their academic future and punishing those who are discovered to have cheated in any form. So far, these particular academic regulations have proven successful and because of this, the charge put forward by the school should continue to be maintained. Revising the Code of Conduct into a peer-enforced system creates is statistically inefficient, hostilities between students, and eliminating the honor code would easily produce a school where cheating reigns free.

During the seminar, the students unanimously agreed that PCHS does not have an honor code to prevent cheating on tests, or school related projects. Therefore, many students take the chance to copy answers from other students who work hard to earn their grade. That’s why these students ask that an honor code be implemented by the student government, monitored and enforced by PCHS faculty, and be constantly revised to make PCHS an exceptional learning environment for students.

People can very easily disobey the honor code even though many people may view that person as trustworthy or “would never do that.” They may just break the rule. The same idea goes with parents or teachers on students and kids. They always believe that a kid never disobeyed, cheated, or skip class but in reality, they actually did. In source C it says “The possibility that 125 Harvard students ‘improperly collaborated’ on an exam in the spring has galvanized a continuing discussion about the use of honor codes. While Harvard administrators hope that an honor code can improve the academic integrity of the college, critics--especially Harvard students--are skeptical that signing a piece of paper will suddenly cause a cheater to change his ways.” Many people who do cheat will tell their trusted peers. In Source E It shows highlights from student research in 2007-2008. 40% of students who have violated the honor code and not been caught. That’s actually a pretty high number and I don’t doubt that more students did the same thing but was not caught. In addition, no one wants to be that guy that points out that someone is cheating because other students will deem you as a “snitch” and feel that they can’t trust

One of the expectations for students is to do their work individually and with complete honesty. At Robert Vela High School, honor code system is established to help the students achieve those expectations. If they do not, there are underlying consequences that would teach them a lesson. The honor code established at Robert Vela High School (RVHS) should be maintained for it includes rules concerning the academic misconduct of the students, however, students tend to not take them seriously because they are not enforced efficiently. Without implementing the system effectively, students’ integrity will be at stake, teachers will lose their authority, grade point average and rankings will be at risk, and students will not be prepared for college.

An honor code is a set of rules that might be enforced in schools. Children sign an agreement contract that says if they break these rules they accept the punishments. I believe that honor codes should be enforced in schools when cheating or other misbehaviors get out of control. In some schools “ students convicted of lying or cheating can expect to receive punishments ranging from suspension to expulsion .” I believe at this moment hotchkiss high school just work on revising our honor system.

This way, the honor code is maintained and the teacher is able to address the issue of cheating. Finally, someone following the honor code should act with an ideal of integrity. If someone is whole and has firm values, they should not feel it necessary toile, cheat or steal. For example, if Ms. Hawkins leaves Paul alone in the classroom with the key to the chapter 9 test for the next day, Paul should act out of integrity and not take pictures of the key. Paul should be confident enough in his own abilities and firm enough in his ethics that he does not want to or need to cheat.

.Morton does not talked about the history of honor codes, and she does not use data as part of her speech. Even though Morton does not mention them, her statements are more clear and stronger than Greenberg`s article. Morton explains their students why honor codes are important, as part as their ethic and culture. She mentions ‘By ethics I mean the thoughtful, systematic examination of the values that govern or contribute to the culture of a group.’ She explains their students how the university cares about them as each individual and also as an institutions that wants to create a culture of