The GPS Honor System

The students of GPS are proud of their honor system. They assume that every GPS girl is honorable. The term “honorable” implies that a girl can be trusted to take a test in a room even though the teacher might not be present, to respect the property of others, and to tell the truth.

The honor system at GPS provides the guidelines for a perfect student community while allowing maximum individual freedom. Its basic assumption is that each student bears the responsibility of abiding by this honor system. The honor system expects an individual to think beyond herself and to realize that any infraction threatens the privileges of the rest of the student body and undermines the trust upon which the system is built. If abuses occur, action must be taken.

The honor system requires each student to refuse to participate in cheating, lying, or stealing. The object of reporting a girl is not to betray, punish, or embarrass her, but to help her realize the implication of the appearance of her behavior and the importance of upholding the GPS honor system. Each girl entering GPS automatically pledges to report herself or another. This is the heart of the honor system.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Each student must understand that plagiarism means using as her own the work of a classmate, her parents, a magazine, an encyclopedia, or the work of any other author. Every student must realize that quotation marks and/or citations must be used on any direct quote or idea. Any idea or theory from another source must be documented even if not directly quoted. When sections of work are paraphrased, they should also be acknowledged.

The GPS pledge is: “On my honor I have neither given nor received help on this test, nor will I discuss it.” Each student signs the Pledge upon completing a pledged assignment. This should not be just a note exercise; instead, each word of the Pledge should be considered carefully before a girl signs her name to it.

If a girl has committed an offense or has seen any other student violate the honor system, she should instantly report that fact to a member of the Honor Council and should not discuss the matter with anyone other than the Honor Council member. When an accusation is submitted, the senior representatives meet to consider the accusation by a student, faculty, or staff member. They look at evidence and interview witnesses. The accuser and any witnesses sign confidentiality forms at these meetings. At this point, the accused is unaware that she is under investigation. The senior representatives in the investigative hearing(s) can dismiss the case at this point in the process. If they decide the case has merit, the seniors meet with the accused as an informing body, deliver notice of the charge against her, advise her of the time and location of the hearing before the full council, and have a confidentiality form signed. The full council is the representative group that hears the case, examines the witness statement(s), reviews the evidence, asks questions of the accused, hears her testimony, and decides the case. It is very important that a student follow exactly the instructions in the notice given to her by the seniors. Honor Council matters take priority over all other school functions or activities.

At the hearing, every girl is presumed innocent until proven guilty by clear and convincing evidence. A girl accused of an honor violation may rebut the accusation made against her in any manner consistent with the Honor Code. If the Council does not find “clear and convincing evidence” of guilt, the girl will be acquitted. No further action will be taken. If a finding of guilt is made, the Council will then determine the punishment. Punishments that may be issued by the Council include one- and two-day suspensions, revocation of school privileges (such as senior privileges and free study halls), disqualification from participation in extracurricular activities, and Saturday Demerit Sessions. A student may be asked to apologize to a teacher or staff member, and counseling also may be required as part of the educational and rehabilitation process. Honor probation, longer suspension periods, and expulsion from the school may be recommended by the Council in the case of repeated offenses or of especially severe offenses. After a girl has appeared before the Honor Council, her parents will receive a letter relating the facts. In dealing with honor violations, the Honor Council always seeks to help a girl and to educate her about the virtue of honesty.

If a student is a repeated offender of the honor system, she is not a desirable citizen of GPS. If a girl is convicted three times by the Council in her years at GPS, expulsion is the usual consequence. Punishment will be recommended by the Council and approved by the administration.

The Honor Council will observe confidentiality concerning discussions and will not reveal the source of the information that is reported. It is expected that a girl who turns in another student and the girl who appears before the Honor Council will observe the same secrecy. This secrecy is for the protection of the girl and her reputation. If a girl receives a notice to appear at an Honor Council hearing, she should not seek out a friend or other student for support. Instead, a student’s advisor is the appropriate person for the girl to consult.

If a girl believes that the decision of the Honor Council is erroneous in some respect, she has the right to appeal her conviction or punishment to the Headmaster. If an appeal has not been requested within five days of the Honor Council hearing, the decision will be considered final and the assigned punishment will be begin.

An honor system can exist only if everyone believes in it and works for its success. The honor system seeks to preserve the privileges for which students have proved themselves responsible and to encourage a student to develop as an individual by assuming responsibility for her own actions.

The Honor Code is simple in its meaning - no cheating, lying, or stealing. Common sense will guide students in determining what is and is not an honor offense. Below is a list of actions which the Honor Council has determined to be offenses based on prior cases. Of course, this not a complete list of all offenses.

The honor system is in effect during any activity on school campus and on any school outing and school