O'Neal and HONOR
In the first week of September, Middle School students signed O’Neal’s Honor Code while the Upper School students were reminded of how its Honor Council works and the importance of O’Neal’s Honor Code. As student elections for the open seats on the Upper School Honor Council and signing of the Honor Code are scheduled to happen soon, Honor Council Advisor and Upper School Spanish and Drama teacher Michael Norman spoke to Upper School students on the matter of Honor.
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As has become custom at O’Neal, I am here today to share with each of you a few thoughts about the one virtue that unites us—Honor. For those who are new to our community, I hope that you will recognize honor and the role that it plays in your daily interactions with peers and faculty and come to value its importance as the invisible glue that unites this diverse community of scholars and athletes, of deep-thinkers and artists. Honor is so central to the existence of O’Neal that it echoes through the words of our very mission statement—where we strive not only to be a “college preparatory school” where one can develop “academic excellence”, but equally to promote “strength of character and an environment where integrity, self-discipline and consideration for others are fundamental.” Let’s consider some of those key words—character, integrity, consideration. These qualities are strange. They are not like chemical formulas or algebraic equations. They are not skills that we can easily teach you. They are, rather, ineffable qualities that pervade every aspect of what we do here. They are modeled by your peers and by the faculty. They are the core of what and who we strive to be.
During my first few years at O’Neal, I decided that I wanted to teach something in upper level Spanish classes that would not only allow me to review the subjunctive or to increase students’ vocabulary but also help me to foster a sense of awareness of the possibilities that life can hold. A parting lesson of sorts for my seniors about stretching themselves, about seeking to become life-long learners and about how life is a journey filled with so many lessons and what we, as teachers, like to call “teachable moments”—those times when you dare to fail and learn from your mistakes. But what? Where could I find all of those lessons? I’ve got it, I thought and so I checked Amazon for a Spanish translation of Antoine de St. Exupery’s Le Petit Prince. The Little Prince, or “El principito” at it is called in Spanish was perfect. It is from this book that we learn that “lo más escencial es invisible a los ojos” Or “The most important things are invisible to the eyes” This message seemed as relevant when St. Exupery wrote the Little Prince as it does today. You cannot always see what is important but that does not make it less important. Indeed, we cannot instantly see honor nor can we discern integrity. This does not, however, lessen their value. In fact, it is this all-encompassing nature that makes them some of the most important things you will learn here. I hope that this will be foremost in your thoughts before you talk to a friend, when you are studying for a test, while you are writing a paper, when you are using social media—Ask yourself: Am I acting with honor? What unseen effect will my words or actions have on others or on my school? Do I keep honor first in all that I do? The Greek philosopher Socrates boldly proclaimed that he would “prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.” Are you that honorable? Whether through word or deed, will you bend to temptation and take the easy way out or will you stand tall even if it means failure in the short term? To be honorable may not be the easiest of paths but it is a path worn well by those who most deserve our respect.
On the sixth of September, each of you will sign honor code pledges in advisory. This is a written reminder of something that is expected of each of us. In signing these cards you are committing to “promote and to foster an atmosphere in which honorable behavior is valued and respected” and not to “steal, deceive or cheat in spoken or written word, deed, or action.” During our opening Faculty week meetings, Mr. Elmore told us all that we have a choice each day on how to proceed but that we should choose wisely as we only have one opportunity to get it right. It is my hope that you will take this and choose to put honor first throughout your days here. Thank you.
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Where do you see school hallways of lockers without locks and smart phones charging in outlets unattended? Where do you experience writing just a few simple words on your school work to symbolize the responsibility given to you to be honest and truthful? O’Neal governs its students by the tenets of an honor code.
As students progress from division to division, a new layer to the meaning of “Honor” is added. As part of character education, Lower School students are introduced to its fundamental meaning. Middle and Upper School divisions begin each school year with education on what it means to abide by an Honor Code followed by making the individual commitment by verbally pledging and signing the code.
The Upper School has an Honor Council of students elected by their peers as well as select faculty members. The Honor Council handles infractions to the Honor Code as necessary throughout the school year.
The goal of O’Neal’s Honor Code includes five tenets:
I shall be honest in all matters regarding the life of the School. My word may always be trusted.
The work that I present will always be my own.
I shall not seek unfair advantage over my fellow students by cheating or by plagiarizing.
The School’s honor code provides for a safe environment where lockers remain without locks. Students write “On my honor” on their tests, and quizzes indicating that the work is their own. Education on the definition of plagiarism is very strong and highly monitored.
During my first few years at O’Neal, I decided that I wanted to teach something in upper level Spanish classes that would not only allow me to review the subjunctive or to increase students’ vocabulary but also help me to foster a sense of awareness of the possibilities that life can hold. A parting lesson of sorts for my seniors about stretching themselves, about seeking to become life-long learners and about how life is a journey filled with so many lessons and what we, as teachers, like to call “teachable moments”—those times when you dare to fail and learn from your mistakes. But what? Where could I find all of those lessons? I’ve got it, I thought and so I checked Amazon for a Spanish translation of Antoine de St. Exupery’s Le Petit Prince. The Little Prince, or “El principito” at it is called in Spanish was perfect. It is from this book that we learn that “lo más escencial es invisible a los ojos” Or “The most important things are invisible to the eyes” This message seemed as relevant when St. Exupery wrote the Little Prince as it does today. You cannot always see what is important but that does not make it less important. Indeed, we cannot instantly see honor nor can we discern integrity. This does not, however, lessen their value. In fact, it is this all-encompassing nature that makes them some of the most important things you will learn here. I hope that this will be foremost in your thoughts before you talk to a friend, when you are studying for a test, while you are writing a paper, when you are using social media—Ask yourself: Am I acting with honor? What unseen effect will my words or actions have on others or on my school? Do I keep honor first in all that I do? The Greek philosopher Socrates boldly proclaimed that he would “prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.” Are you that honorable? Whether through word or deed, will you bend to temptation and take the easy way out or will you stand tall even if it means failure in the short term? To be honorable may not be the easiest of paths but it is a path worn well by those who most deserve our respect.
On the sixth of September, each of you will sign honor code pledges in advisory. This is a written reminder of something that is expected of each of us. In signing these cards you are committing to “promote and to foster an atmosphere in which honorable behavior is valued and respected” and not to “steal, deceive or cheat in spoken or written word, deed, or action.” During our opening Faculty week meetings, Mr. Elmore told us all that we have a choice each day on how to proceed but that we should choose wisely as we only have one opportunity to get it right. It is my hope that you will take this and choose to put honor first throughout your days here. Thank you.
_______
Where do you see school hallways of lockers without locks and smart phones charging in outlets unattended? Where do you experience writing just a few simple words on your school work to symbolize the responsibility given to you to be honest and truthful? O’Neal governs its students by the tenets of an honor code.
As students progress from division to division, a new layer to the meaning of “Honor” is added. As part of character education, Lower School students are introduced to its fundamental meaning. Middle and Upper School divisions begin each school year with education on what it means to abide by an Honor Code followed by making the individual commitment by verbally pledging and signing the code.
The Upper School has an Honor Council of students elected by their peers as well as select faculty members. The Honor Council handles infractions to the Honor Code as necessary throughout the school year.
The goal of O’Neal’s Honor Code includes five tenets:
- To support, in individual students, the further development of integrity, responsibility, and accountability in both academic and personal matters
- To instill a loyalty to The O’Neal School in the student body as a whole
- To assist in maintaining a high ethical climate in the Middle and Upper Schools
- To ensure that a student’s work be his or her own and not that of another person
- To instill in students a constant awareness of the ramifications of their actions and the need not to place themselves in questionable situations or in circumstances which connote dishonest or unlawful acts.
I shall be honest in all matters regarding the life of the School. My word may always be trusted.
The work that I present will always be my own.
I shall not seek unfair advantage over my fellow students by cheating or by plagiarizing.
The School’s honor code provides for a safe environment where lockers remain without locks. Students write “On my honor” on their tests, and quizzes indicating that the work is their own. Education on the definition of plagiarism is very strong and highly monitored.
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