The Cliffside Park High School Honor System is based on the belief and attitude that students are responsible for their academic behavior just as administrators and faculty are responsible for academic leadership. The intent of the honor system is not to punish nor create an oppressive academic environment, but to guide by example and to foster an academic community in which the work of the students is both a spirited search for knowledge and a true and honest reflection of that effort. Our honor system is based on the realization that high school students, though not yet adults, are no longer young children. It is also necessary that staff members annually present and explain the Honor System to all students and to provide them with the opportunity to ask questions. The Honor System cannot simply be a one-period workshop. It is incumbent upon everyone in our school community to expect and demonstrate honest academic behavior; as the adage says, “Actions speak louder than words.” Once properly in place, honor systems are an unspoken but conscious part of a school’s daily routine acting like the body’s immune system: silently preventing minor ailments from becoming major infirmities. I. Acts of Academic Dishonesty (see Section II for full clarifications) A. Minor 1. The attempt to give or receive assistance in class during a test or quiz. 2. The use of prepared materials to assist one’s self during a test or quiz. 3. The submission of another’s work as one’s own B. Major 1. The attempt to give assistance outside of class after or before a test or quiz by copying the test’s or quiz’s material in part or whole. 2. Plagiarism 3. The submission or use of the same work more than once without first receiving permission of the instructor. 4. The submission of another’s research paper as one’s own. II. Definitions of Academic Dishonesty A. Minor 1. The attempt to give or receive assistance in class during a test or quiz. Any student who verbally requests or responds to a student’s request for information, any student who requests to see or allows another student to see information, or any student who exchanges or allows to be exchanged written information during a test or quiz without the immediate verbal permission of the instructor is guilty of academic dishonesty. 2. The use of prepared materials, written or recorded, to assist one’s self during a test or quiz. 3. The submission of another’s work, such as homework, as one’s own B. Major 1. The attempt to give assistance outside of class after or before a test or quiz by copying the test’s or quiz’s material in part or whole. Any student who attempts to copy test or quiz material without immediate verbal permission of the instructor for the purpose of sharing that material either orally or with written notes with another student or students is guilty of academic dishonesty. 2. Plagiarism. [From Harold C. Marton, Richard M. Ohmann, and James H. Wheatley, The Logic and Rhetoric of Exposition, 3rd ed. (New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1969).] The academic counterpart of the bank embezzler and of the manufacturer who mislabels his products is the plagiarist; the student or scholar who leads his reader to believe that what he is reading is the original work of the writer when it is not. If it could be assumed that the distinction between plagiarism and honest use of sources is perfectly clear in everyone’s mind, there would be no need for the explanation that follows; merely the warning with which this definition concludes would be enough. But it is apparent that sometimes men of good will draw the suspicion of guilt upon themselves (and, indeed, are guilty) simply because they are not aware of the illegitimacy of certain kinds of “borrowing” and of the procedures for correct identification of materials other than those gained through independent research and reflection.” Types of Plagiarism a. Word-for-word plagiarism: when a student copies complete sentences or paragraphs and does not document the reference. b. Paraphrasing: while not necessarily copying word-for-word, a student simply re-words the sentences and/or paragraphs of another author without documenting the reference. c. Unique phrases or terms: when a student’s research reveals another author’s original phrase or term to describe a topic and that original phrase or term is used without documenting the reference. d. Rearrangement: while not copying word-for-word or complete sentences directly, a student rearranges the words and sentences of an author without documenting the reference. e. Use of citations that one has not actually found: when a student copies relevant citations from another author’s similar research. 3. The submission or use of the same work more than once without first receiving permission of the instructor. When a student resubmits his or her own material for credit in another class without first receiving the permission of the instructor. Such re-submission also applies to the re-reading of the same work for credit in another class without first receiving permission of the instructor. 4. The submission of another student’s work as one’s own. When a student submits as his or her own the work of another student or person whether that work was for the specific class or not; whether the work was graded by a teacher or not. IV. The Honor Code Committee The purpose of the Honor Code Committee is to insure that the Code’s provisions are equitably administered and that both the student and teacher are given the opportunity to defend and/or explain an accusation of academic dishonesty. The Honor Code Committee will be made up of the building Principal, Vice-Principal, Director of Guidance, the Department Head in whose discipline the alleged violation has occurred, four volunteer faculty members [one of whom serves as an alternate], and a student from each year (12 members total though a maximum of 11 would meet). The teacher of the student will also be present as a non-voting person. If a member of the committee is unable to attend or is the teacher whose student is involved in the alleged incident, then the alternate faculty member will replace him or her for that committee meeting. V. Honor Committee Procedure A. Teachers will submit in writing a brief explanation of any major violation of the honor code to the Principal. The Principal will investigate the incident and decide whether the Committee needs to be convened. The Principal will inform the student of the possible infraction and discuss its implications, and explain the Committee procedure. If the Student decides that the Committee does not need to be convened, then the provisions of the Honor Code will simply be carried out. If the Principal decides that the Committee should convene, he will expeditiously call for a meeting of the members, the teacher, and student and parents of the student. B. The Principal will chair the Committee meeting. (In his/her absence, the Vice-Principal will chair.) C. The teacher whose student has allegedly violated the Honor Code will present information to support the violation. D. The student [and parents or their representatives if they choose] will present information to refute or allay the accusation. E. During each presentation, members of the Committee may ask questions. F. The Student shall have the opportunity to present witnesses and cross-examine any of the committee’s witnesses. G. Following the presentations and questions, the Committee will meet alone to discuss and vote on 1. Whether a violation has occurred. 2. What the sanction will be if a violation has occurred. H. At least 7 members must be present for vote. I. A majority vote of the members decides whether a violation has occurred. J.Sanctions 1. A student will receive a failing grade of zero (0) for the assignment, quiz, test, paper, et cetera. 2. If the student is a freshman or sophomore and the assignment is considered a major component of that marking period’s final grade, the student will receive a failing grade of forty-nine (49) for the marking period. 3. If the student is a junior or a senior and the assignment is considered a major component of that marking period’s final grade, the student will receive a numerical average of zero (0) for that marking period. 4. Suspensions from school or detentions are not considered appropriate sanctions for honor code violations, but can be administered if thought necessary by the committee. 5. Any student who violates the Honor Code must attend a one-hour class on the implications of such behavior. The Guidance Department will hold these classes as necessary. VI. Student Recourse Any student who is accused of having violated the honor system and whose violation does not lead to an Honor Committee Procedure may appeal that accusation through his or her guidance counselor. The student should submit a brief written explanation of the reasons why he or she wants to appeal. The counselor will in turn have a meeting with the vice-principal who, after speaking with those involved and with any assistance he or she considers appropriate, will decide whether the student’s appeal should be further examined. The vice-principal may even decide to have the Honor Committee meet. The student may also appeal a violation and it’s outcome to the Board of Education VII. Departmental Supplemental Policies Each department will create a written policy, which specifically explains examples of academic dishonesty that might occur within its discipline. This policy will be readily available for any student who requests it. Copies of each department’s policy will be kept on file in the Principals office. c VIII. Schedule of Honor Code Presentations Specified faculty members, as per the following schedule, will make an annual formal presentation of the Cliffside Park High School Honor Code: · 8th Grade: In late January or early February, Guidance Counselors will handout, explain, and answer any questions regarding the Cliffside Park High School Honor Code. These presentations will be done in groups during the same time period when the counselors visit the various grammar schools for pre-scheduling and scheduling purposes. · 9th Grade: At some point in September, all World History teachers will handout, explain, and answer any questions regarding the Cliffside Park High School Honor Code. · 10th Grade: At some point in September, 10th grade English teachers will handout, explain, and answer any questions regarding the Cliffside Park High School Honor Code. · 11th Grade: At some point in September, U.S. History 2 social studies teachers will handout, explain, and answer any questions regarding the Cliffside Park High School Honor Code. · 12th Grade: At some point in September, 12th grade English teachers will handout, explain, and answer any questions regarding the Cliffside Park High School Honor Code, · Additionally, whenever any teacher initially assigns a research paper, the assignment must be proceeded with an explanation of the Honor Code. (The teacher must do this explanation only once for a class during a school year.) · During the school year, the Guidance Department will hold group meetings to present, explain, and answer questions about the Honor Code for any students who enter the school after September or were absent for the annual presentation. IX. Record of Major Violations The principal will maintain an annual record of the names (only) of those 11th and 12th graders who commit a major act of academic dishonesty. If any school or community selection committee uses personal character as a component of its criteria, the committee chairperson may submit applicants’ names to the principal who will inform the chairperson whether any of the applicants have had a major violation during the past 12 months. Intent of Sanctions The classroom sanction and associated meeting (V-I-5)is intended to be the only sanction for 9th and 10th graders who commit a major act of academic dishonesty. The classroom sanction is intended to be the main sanction for 11th and 12th graders who commit a major act of academic dishonesty. The record of major violations for juniors and seniors is not to be used in any manner, either written or spoken, as part of a student’s record, recommendations, or future evaluations of any type.