Upper School Holds Honor Ceremony
Students and faculty members in the Upper School were pleased to hold the annual Honor Ceremony on Tuesday of this week. The assembly has been an annual tradition at Westchester since the early 1990s when the Honor Code was first established by the school’s faculty.
The ceremony includes a time for students and faculty to sign their names on our collective honor pledge. The pledge is emblematic of our commitment to be honest in our academic work and our interpersonal relationships here at Westchester. It says:
As a member of the Westchester community, I resolve to uphold the Honor Code of my School and to endeavor to promote honor and integrity. Therefore, I pledge not to cheat, lie, steal, plagiarize, or behave in any manner that exhibits dishonesty.
Conversations about honor begin in the Lower School through character education, with expectations for personal responsibility and accountability increasing in Middle and Upper School. More information about the school’s emphasis on honor can be found on our website and in the Community Handbook. At the beginning of each school year, faculty and students of the Upper School spend time discussing the value of honor and its practical applications prior to signing the pledge.
In keeping with tradition, this year's keynote address was offered by a senior member of our Honor Council. Senior Carter Scavo crafted and delivered a charge to his peers, with input from the other members of the council -- Anna Sloan Culp, Meredith Harron and Aliana Schwartz. Carter’s comments spoke volumes about the meaning and purpose of this long-standing Westchester tradition. Here is an excerpt from his speech:
Decorated Marine Corps Commandant Carl Epting Mundy Jr. described honor as ‘the quality that guides [one] to exemplify the ultimate in ethical and moral behavior; to never lie, cheat, or steal; to abide by an uncompromising code of integrity; to respect human dignity.’ Honor is what separates the good from the great. It is what keeps you accountable when nobody else is watching. It is being responsible for your actions. Part of being honorable is being the first to raise your hand and say ‘I did it’ or ‘that was me’ when you do something dishonest. It is easy to be honorable for a moment, but it is difficult to live an honorable life. Therefore, I challenge each and every one of you to strive to live a life of honor. I will leave you with a quote by the Greek playwright Sophocles: ‘Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.’
Those of us who work in the Upper School appreciate the spirit of Carter’s speech and the commitment our students make each year to living well together in community. Just this week some of our administrators had the chance to talk to a couple of former faculty members about the beginnings of our Honor Code. Mr. Peter Cowen, head of Westchester from 1991 to 2003, remembers finding a common interest among the faculty around 1992 when it was initiated.
“I always felt integrity and moral values had to be at the top of the list of what was important,” said Cowen. “Instilling honor and integrity and academic excellence in our students had to be at the top of the list. We even adjusted the mission of the school at the time to reflect this.”
We are all fortunate to be part of a school that lives with intention, integrity and care.
Dr. Mark Braun
Head of Upper School
