Summary of the Case The case under review occurred in the city of Newton against a backdrop of economic decline, political disenchantment, and a widening racial divide. A Newton High School senior,Sheila Allison, is accused by her teacher of plagiarizing a book review. Mrs. Durnitz, the teacher, reported to the school principal that Sheila admitted to taking material from the web but claimed she did not know that doing so constituted plagiarism. The district’s policy states that students found guilty of plagiarism must receive a failing grade and repeat the course. Mrs. Durnitz feels that Sheila, having a copy of the student handbook in which plagiarism is discussed, should have known that what she did violated the policy. The teacher also believes that the policy, drafted by the teachers who teach honors classes and approved by the administration, must be followed to the letter despite any extenuating circumstances. Sheila, a good student who is popular and athletic, received a congressional appointment to a national military academy. She is the first African American at Newton High School to receive such an honor. The town has publicized this fact widely throughout the community. Should Sheila receive a failing grade in her honors English class, she may lose this prestigious appointment. The ramifications for the district—should this occur—will most likely be both political and legal. The superintendent and principal are stymied in their efforts to reach a compromise as Mrs. Durnitz refuses to change her position that the policy must be followed to the letter. She appealed to the teachers’ association for support when it appeared that the administration and board might not uphold her position. The local newspap... ... middle of paper ... ...t era: A wake up call. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. Martinez, S. (2009). A system gone berserk: How are zero-tolerance policies really …..affecting schools? Preventing School Failure, 53(3), 153-157. Retrieved from …..http://search.proquest.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/docview/228530113?acco…..untid=6579 Protheroe, N. (2011). What effective principals do? Principal, 90(5), 26-30. Retrieved …..from www.naesp.org Strom, P., & Strom, R. (2007). Cheating in middle school and high school. Educational …..Forum,71(2), 104-116. doi:10.1080/00131720708984924 Thomas, D. A. (2004). How educators can more effectively understand and combat the …..plagiarism epidemic. Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, (2), …..421-430. Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova. …..edu/hottopics/lnacademic/?verb=sr&csi=167098
This decision makes it clear the most important thing for a school to do is to protect the students. It also states that the board of education, whose role is to oversee the schools, must make sure that the staff of the schools is protecting those children. This case highlights that long-term abuse can happen in schools if there are not clear policies or, if there are, that there is no one ensuring that those policies are
Another major reason why juveniles are ending up in the juvenile justice system is because many schools have incorporate the zero tolerance policy and other extreme school disciplinary rules. In response to violent incidents in schools, such as the Columbine High School massacre, school disciplinary policies have become increasingly grave. These policies have been enacted at the school, district and state levels with the hopes of ensuring the safety of students and educators. These policies all rely on the zero tolerance policy. While it is understandable that protecting children and teachers is a priority, it is not clear that these strict policies are succeeding in improving the safety in schools.
The fact that plagiarism has become easier and benefits the students academically means that the temptation to cheat outweighs the consequences greatly. This reveals that the rules at Paloma Valley need reinforcement. Jennifer Dirmeyer along with Alexander Cartwright, authors of the article “Honor Codes Work Where Honesty
Following the Columbine tragedy in 1999, “school systems across the nation introduced the zero-tolerance policies aimed at the curtailment of harmful student behaviors” (Noll, 2014, p. 295). The original focus of the policies was to eliminate the use/carrying of weapons but soon after spread to restricting drugs and medication (2014). By 2006 95% of the U.S. public schools had adopted the zero-tolerance policies and more than half of them reported taking significant action against students, many of which resulted in expulsion (2014). While the zero-tolerance polices were originally welcomed by all members of a community as a means of promoting and keeping a safer environment-- as of late many individuals are questioning the relevance of some actions and some school officials (2014).
Lawmakers and school officials have been wearisome in the efforts of finding a policy that works to make our schools a safer place for students and administrators. Schools, both public and private, are an environment for learning and pleasant experiences that a child or adolescent will remember for the rest of their lives. Although, experiences like the Columbine High school massacres are not what an individual would want to remember and is one of the most significant enforcer when it comes to all austere policies. Zero tolerance was first introduced by President Ronald Reagan’s
Schimmel, David, Leslie Robert Stellman and Louis Fischer. Teachers and the Law. Eighth Edition. Pearson Education Inc, 2011.
Modern American honour values bravery, freedom and hard work. Honor has been expressed different for years and years in different countries. Honour is defined of someone having high respect, courage and being selfless. Honour can also be viewed as someone sacrificing something or themselves; like our US soldiers. Nothing stays the same and just like honour it has changed over time, many times depending on what is valued. History tells its own story from different perspectives of honour.
The Zero-tolerance policy was originally developed in the 1980s to target the booming drug trade by the U.S. Customs Agency (Martinez, 2009). The policy was later adopted in public schools as a response to the perception that juvenile violence was increasing and the need for school officials to take desperate measures to address the problem of violence. School officials became increasingly concerned about the use of drugs and the increasing involvement of gang activity among students. The horrific shooting at the Columbine High School only further solidified the fears of school safety among students and staff (Curtis, 2014). The Zero-tolerance policy assumes that removing students who engage in disruptive behavior will deter others from disruption and create an improved climate for those who remain (American Psychologist, 2008). The U.S. educational system has implemented a policy and philosophy, which was intended to deter drug criminals to be rendered as a disciplinary tool for students.
There is an ever broadening problem spreading throughout colleges all across America: cheating. Is it a serious offence or just a harmless crime? Cheating is on the rise, but schools and colleges are not far behind with ways of dealing with it. Mark Clayton deals with this issue in his essay entitled “A Whole Lot of Cheatin’ Going On.”
If the dean of students had required the removal of the editorial, she would have violated my Constitutional rights; the editorial did not disrupt school discipline, undermine the school’s educational purpose, or cause any pedagogical concerns. In fact, the editorial advanced the school’s educational purpose in an effort to expose administrational problems plaguing the university’s board of regents. The dean of students, however, did not requ...
One of the best qualities of society is one known as honor. However, honor is one of these words which cannot be tied down with an exact definition. People define honor with different ideas or opinions: being honorable is being respected, and to be honored you must be admired; you must have high morals to be considered honorable. Some say that your honor is determined not by yourself, but by everyone else. The definition of honor seems to have always been this confusing. However, it is noticeable that honor’s definition has changed over time, and it can be compared likewise. Honor can be seen as it was, then compared with how the way the United States views it, the way other countries view honor , and the way the world views it now.
Zero Tolerance has a very good literal appeal. Parents and some students alike are happy to have this disciplinary action. However, zero tolerance would not have stopped the school shootings that have recently plagued the country. A recent po...
Modern students face many pressures for academic success. They are often unwilling to disappoint their parents or spouses. Some fear that not cheating will weaken a student’s ability to compete with their peers. They rationalize their unethical behavior, unwilling to accept a poor grade, consequently justifying cheating as the only means to that end.
Everyone has cheated on something at some point in their life, whether it is in a game, on a test, or in a relationship, everyone has done it. Cheating is anything that involves breaking a rule, or getting an unfair advantage. Schools are one of the most popular places people cheat. Many people down play cheating and use excuses like, “He shouldn’t have let me see his paper,” or, “I am just using my resources wisely.” But, what causes people to cheat? Students cheat in school because of laziness, high standards or pressure to do well, and misunderstanding.
What is honor? For some, it is a high respect that is earned through cumulative deeds and reputation. For others, striving for honor is in itself narcissistic and dishonorable. Honor is present just as much today as it was in William Shakespeare’s day. The word honor has become dangerous and emotive due to those who seek attention from others by playing the hero of the day. Especially to those who would go to great lengths in acquiring honor for themselves? People love to be recognized and rewarded for their good deeds or works, but should they get honored for doing a good deed? Should it not come from the good of their hearts? Many examples from our world history has demonstrated the desire for praise and recognition in exchange in doing good deeds for others. It’s no longer honor if you seek to attain the regard of others. In essence he describes the word honor as something not worth dying for. After all, in that word honor is just air? Is it not?