The Importance Of Newman's Honor Code

Newman Smith like many other high schools and colleges has an honor code. THis code gives students a guideline on how to live like a Trojan. Nothing in life is perfect, and so there are some issues with the honor code. Newman Should revise its honor code because it was written 23 years ago, most students don't even know that it exist, and students will more likely follow rules they help make.

The honor code of Newman Smith was written in 1994. Most of the class of 2012 were just being brought into the world. Student now of days don't feel connected to it at all. At the University of Virginia, Students have to write,” On my honor as a student, I have neither given nor received aid on this assignment/exam”. Students have been following that rule since 1842. The thing is that college are more mature and serious about their education, while some high school students are the complete opposite. Although there are some high school students who do have a similar mindset as college students, but sadly they do not make up the majority. Most spend their time in high school not taking it seriously. Revising the honor code would modernize it and make it more relatable to the students.

Most Newman Smith High School students don't know that we have an honor code.

Don't see it in the hallways or in teachers classrooms. Now there are there are a few teachers who have it hanging up somewhere, but they never draw any attention to it. In a study done in 2008 at a small public university show that 42% of students and alumni did not know the range of sanctions that can occur. Which means almost half the colleges students did not know what all they would be punished for. Now few teachers do put the honor code in their syllabus but they don't go over it. If Newman Smith’s honor code was revised, the new rules would have to be presented. Once it was presented to the whole school, almost every student would know about

it.
At Lawrence Academy in 1998, a new honor code was written for the school. Many students, including members of the schools Senate, were quick to criticize it. The new honor code was written without student input. Many colleges have reduced cheating by encouraging students developing community standards on academic dishonesty and ensuring their subsequent acceptance by the larger student community. Colleges have found success in using student help with their honor codes. Yes students should follow reasonable rules no matter who wrote them, but if that's the case you can say the same thing about the 13 colonies. The British were making rules for the colonies without their input. Which caused them to rebel against Parliament and eventually create the country we live in today. Allowing students to help revise the honor code will also make them feel obligated to help enforce it.
The revision of Newman Smith’s honor code will make the school a better place. Many schools have had success with student approved honor codes. We could also share in that success but we have to be willing to change and experiment new things. If not the school will continue on the bad path it has been on these last couple years.