The Honor Code

"Every day your values are tested, are tried, and you alone have the chance to make that day a little bit better, a little bit more honorable."
--- President, Student Government Association

The Altamont School Student Council adopts the position that honor is a personal matter for each individual, and that each individual must accept responsibility for his or her own conduct. The purpose of the Honor Code is to inculcate into each individual a desire for total integrity in all relationships. This wish prohibits lying, cheating, stealing. The Code insures an individual’s moral growth as long as he or she respects and upholds the Honor System. The Student Government feels that honor is a growing quality and that older students not only should feel responsibility for their own conduct but also should establish an atmosphere of honor for younger students.

While no student can be another’s conscience, he or she can influence and go on record as creating honesty in all relationships. The Student Government sets forth the following Code of Honor for The Altamont School:

  • Giving or receiving help on any graded exercise is a breach of the Honor Code. Teachers must specify whether students may work together on homework assignments.
  • Misrepresentation of the fact is a breach of the Honor Code;
  • Taking another’s property is a breach of the Honor Code.

If any student under stress is guilty of any of these violations, he or she should report himself/herself to the Headmaster, the Dean of Students, a teacher, the faculty advisor of the Honor Court, or the President of the Honor Court.

A student who witnesses or has evidence of a violation of the Honor Code should report it to the Dean of Students, to a faculty member, to the faculty advisor of the Honor Court, or the President of the Honor Court. If the situation is referred to the Honor Court, the Dean will then carry out an investigation of the circumstances and present them to the Court. If the Court determines that there has been an infraction of the Honor Code, it will present its decision regarding culpability and consequences to the Headmaster as a recommendation. If the Headmaster wishes clarification or further explanation, he can reconvene the Honor Court. The consequences that the Honor Court and Headmaster determine will depend upon the nature of the offense, the truthfulness of the student involved, and the age of the student. A prior violation of the Honor Code may weigh heavily against a student. In the event of serious or repeated violations, the school may determine that expulsion is appropriate.

On the next school day following the proceedings, the Headmaster and the Dean of Students will meet with the student involved and his/her parents to present them with a letter outlining the Court’s findings and recommendations. A copy of the notification letter will be placed in the student’s file but will be removed at the end of the designated probationary period. However, the Administration believes that by the 10 th grade a student should have fully assimilated the Honor Code. Therefore, if a student commits an offense during the sophomore, junior, or senior year, the copy of the notification letter becomes a part of the student’s permanent record. In some circumstances, the Honor Court or the Headmaster might deem it appropriate that the offense be communicated to any schools or colleges to which the student may apply or has applied. The Headmaster reserves the right to announce to the student body and, in special circumstances, to the whole community a summary of Honor Court actions. The purpose of such announcements is to reduce rumor and to enhance understanding.

The Honor Code recognizes that a student does not arrive at Altamont with perfect moral judgment. The Code is a teaching tool. If a student makes an error in judgment, he or she will be given an opportunity to right the wrong and to learn from and evolve beyond the mistake.

Any Student Council Officer or class officer found guilty by the Honor Court is immediately removed from office.

The Seal of The Altamont School

Truth, Knowledge, Honor The Honor Court is charged with upholding the virtues of our Honor Code.

THE HONOR COURT

To insure a student’s privacy and to maintain an orderly school day, whenever possible Honor Court will be held after school hours rather than during the school day. The accused, accuser, and witnesses will be notified in a timely manner that they have been summoned to Honor Court. All Honor Court trials will open with a statement of the problem.

Any member of the Honor Court who discusses the proceedings of a trial with anyone other than the concerned parties or members of the Court, administration, or faculty, will be removed from the Court. Anyone involved with an Honor Court matter is required to keep the matter confidential.

The members of the Honor Court will consist of the following people:

  • The President of the National Honor Society, who will serve as President of the Honor Court;
  • The President of the Student Council;
  • The President of the Junior Honor Society;
  • The President of the Senior Class;
  • A representative from the student body-at-large, appointed by the Headmaster;
  • A faculty advisor appointed by the Headmaster. This advisor serves in a non-voting role.

The success or failure of the Honor System rests with each individual student at The Altamont School. Each student should make his commitment to the Honor Code on a personal basis, but the entire student body must constantly observe its ideal as an aid to self-government and to the integrity of the school.

HONOR ASSEMBLY

During the first weeks of school, members of the Honor Court will present an Honor Day Program. The faculty and honor societies try to keep questions regarding honor in the foreground of each student’s experience through assemblies and class and club discussion. All students are expected to abide by the Honor Code.