Honor Code In Schools

The establishment or maintenance of an honor code in schools is generally a difficult concept to get behind as a member of the student body, however, many positives can appear out of the use of this system to change our schools for the better. The implementation of the honor system benefits students in that it gives them more control over their choices, and allows them to change the social constructs of the school, all while being a malleable framework for honesty in the places of education.
First, students may hear the words “honor code” and get the feeling that they are looked down upon and that they are being controlled “behind the scenes” by the adults in the situation. That may be the current connotation of the phrase in students’ minds. As we can see in Bacall’s cartoon, the adults on staff are being told that “Recent research has shown that a spycam can greatly improve the honor code.” The effects of this mindset are that children tend to back away from an honor code system. However, the research done by Lawrence Academy and the adoption of an honor code showed that the student body wanted to keep the “belief in the integrity of human beings,” and the vote that took place allowed for more student involvement and student choice (Vangelli). The use of the code at …show more content…
The students in Vangelli’s article claim that the initial phases of the system called for writing a pledge of honor on every piece of paper turned in. In the event that students think a certain piece of legislation goes too far, such as this one, it can be amended to fit the needs and desires of the school, all while still being an effective tool to help classrooms grow. The nature of an honor code is set up and maintained by students, so as to give them more of a say in their education and the fact that it can be changed campus-to-campus allows for effective rule in all