Rules & Consequences

Students should not equate the student-centered, relatively informal nature of The New Schools educational environment with permission to disrespect the learning process or the classroom. The relaxed environment is precious and needs to be safeguarded at all times. The cardinal rule we adhere to is the STOP RULE. This means that if a student does or says something that is disrespectful, dangerous, or harmful, another student or staff member should tell the student to stop, and the offending student must oblige.

Certain offenses may result in immediate expulsion from the school if the Headmaster decides this action is appropriate. These offenses include but are not limited to: use or possession of illegal drugs, alcohol or weapons at school or on school-sponsored field trips; violent behavior that presents a clear and present danger to the student or another community member; inappropriate physical contact between students.

Students need to remember that the teachers and staff are the final arbiters of all conflicts. In the moment of conflict they need to obey the teachers and staff and comply with their directives. Failure to do so will result in suspension.

Disciplinary Protocol

The staff at The New School will not tolerate behavior that detracts from the educational experience of any student, or that makes The New School feel unsafe, unpleasant or not serious about its mission. Disciplinary actions, like academic intervention, will, when appropriate, be taken in the following stages. It is important to note that all disciplinary actions will be recorded, from Stage 1 through Stage 5. Some infractions will result in swift, harsh punishment. For example, a student who is caught with alcohol or drugs will be removed from school, reported to he police and, in most cases, expelled. A student who behaves in an out-of-control, angry manner will be sent home immediately, consequences to follow. Most of the time, the behavior is not so dramatic or so clear cut.

Stage 1
The student is sent to the School Administrator, who deals with the problem directly, possibly with the help of the advisor and the students parents.

Stage 2
The parents are notified officially that there is a problem, and their assistance and advice are enlisted.

Stage 3
The Fairness Committee is convened and comes up with a plan. The students behavior is monitored closely.

Stage 4
The Disciplinary Committee is convened and the Headmaster may require that the student be evaluated and/or treated by outside professionals. A short-term contract with the student is drawn up and the students behavior is monitored very closely. The student might not be permitted to attend classes until the issue is addressed adequately.

Stage 5
The school may exercise one of the following options:

• The parents are given the opportunity to withdraw the student from the school, either indefinitely until more progress is made, or permanently.
• The school suspends the student indefinitely; or the school expels the student.

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating is the deliberate misrepresentation of facts surrounding the completion of an assignment. Plagiarism is a specific type of cheating that concerns the misuse of third-party information (i.e., copying an essay from a famous author, or using selections from someone else's work without giving them proper credit.) Cheating and plagiarism are two acts that directly violate the spirit and intentions of The New School curriculum and philosophy. Any assignment that involves any element of cheating or plagiarism is automatically a failed assignment - after all, the whole point of assignments is to assess the student's abilities and knowledge. While students are not automatically expelled for cheating and plagiarism, these acts will be addressed by the disciplinary and academic intervention policies.