PAIDEIA TUTORIALS
Student Code of Conduct
Updated Aug. 17, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. General information
Introduction
Other authorities
Amendments
Exceptions
II. Discipline
Introduction
Consequences for violations
III. Student conduct
Introduction
Campus
Guests
Building use
Behavior outside of class
Behavior in class
Academic dishonesty
Dress code
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
Introduction
This document sets forth the policies that students are expected to follow in connection with their enrollment in Paideia Tutorials. Most deal with students’ conduct on campus while classes are in session, though some issues (e.g., academic dishonesty) extend to the home as well. The aim of this document is to guide students in behavior that is honoring to God and conducive to education in the specific context of Paideia. It does not seek to bind students’ consciences beyond the laws of the Bible, but it does set guidelines for their actions.
Other authorities
In addition to the specific policies of Paideia outlined below, students are subject to other legitimate authorities having jurisdiction over the campus: (1) the laws of God, as set forth in the Bible; (2) the laws of the relevant federal, state, and local governments; (3) the policies of the owner of the property where the classes meet. All such rules remain in effect.
Amendments
The board may amend this document at any time and will communicate such amendments to teachers and to parents of students currently enrolled. Amendments may take effect immediately upon such communication, but not retroactively.
Exceptions
The board has the authority to grant exceptions to the rules stated in this document.
II. DISCIPLINE
Introduction
The steps detailed below are the default procedures for handling disciplinary matters. They may be superseded in specific areas as described in section III.
Consequences for violations
A student who violates the student code of conduct will be subject to immediate disciplinary measures up to and including removal from campus for the day. Such discipline may be administered by any one member of the faculty or board, with the exception of removal from campus, which requires the agreement of any two members of the faculty or board. Immediate disciplinary measures will not be subject to immediate appeal.
An adult administering any discipline beyond a verbal warning will report the incident to the student’s parents. Major disciplinary measures, such as removal from class or removal from campus, will also be reported to the board.
A student who believes he has been disciplined unjustly may file a written complaint with the board. The board will consider the complaint, placing the burden of proof on the student. Therefore, the board may dismiss the complaint without further action, but it may not uphold the complaint without offering reasonable opportunity for a meeting with the student and the adult who administered the discipline. Until the board judges the appeal, and afterwards if the board upholds the disciplinary decision, the student must adhere to the decision; repeating the violation may lead to stronger penalties.
A member of the faculty or board who believes that a student should be subject to disciplinary measures beyond removal from campus for the day may file a written request with the board. The board will offer reasonable opportunity for a meeting with the student and the adult. The board will judge the request without placing the burden of proof on either side. The board may administer disciplinary measures up to and including permanent expulsion from Paideia.
Corporal punishment of any sort is not permitted.
The board is the final court of appeal on all disciplinary matters.
A student who is required to miss class for disciplinary reasons will not be entitled to any refund of fees or tuition.
A teacher may refuse to admit a student to an upcoming course on the basis of past disciplinary issues.
III. STUDENT CONDUCT
Introduction
Given that not every possible infraction can be anticipated in the writing of this document, the list of rules provided here is not intended to be comprehensive. The general principle of behavior that guides the formulation of specific policies is that students are expected to act in a way that is obedient to the Bible and consistent with the dictates of common sense. Therefore, any speech or behavior that is dishonoring to God, disrespectful to other people, harmful to others’ property, vulgar, or detrimental to the educational purposes of Paideia is obviously not allowed. It should not be necessary to provide a complete list of possible violations of this principle, as most of them are self-evident.
Within the context of the educational setting of Paideia, it is necessary to set certain rules for behavior which, though consistent with the general principle stated above, are not self-evident. The remainder of this document outlines these rules. Students are expected to be familiar with them and to make a sincere effort to obey them in the spirit rather than merely the letter.
Campus
The Paideia campus is the building and grounds of West Oaks Community Church. Students are expected to respect this property, to behave safely and responsibly while on it, and to leave it at least as clean and orderly as they found it.
The campus will open 15 minutes before the start of the first class of the day and will close not later than 15 minutes after the scheduled end of the last class of the day. Students may be on campus at any time during these hours but are expected to depart by the time campus closes. Parents do not need to remain on campus if their children are mature enough to be there without supervision. Parents who plan to pick their children up at the end of the day should arrive promptly and should call the sexton at (763) 913-6989 if they anticipate arriving late. The sexton assigned to close the campus will not do so until the last student departs, but parents of students departing later than the scheduled closing time will be assessed a fee to compensate the sexton for his time.
Students who are members of West Oaks Community Church will be subject to the rules in this document during the hours that campus is open, regardless of what they might normally be permitted to do as church members. Members of West Oaks Community Church who are not affiliated with Paideia will not be subject to the rules in this document if they happen to be present for reasons unrelated to Paideia.
Guests
Because parents are ultimately responsible for assigning grades and course credit, they are welcome to attend their children’s classes and to be on campus while it is open.
Non-enrolled siblings of enrolled children may be on campus as long as their parents remain present to monitor their behavior.
Bringing other guests to campus, especially on a regular basis, is not encouraged. Such guests may be admitted to campus only with the permission of a teacher or board member.
All guests on campus are expected to follow the relevant standards of student conduct as outlined in this document.
Building use
Paideia has the use of the basement level of campus. Students should enter and leave by the lower entrance on the east side of the building. They may not go upstairs except for music lessons in the sanctuary, which is to be accessed by the back staircase only. The elevator is off limits.
In general, students may use the rooms in the basement for relaxation, studying, conversation, and appropriate indoor play. Students in the fellowship hall should make a deliberate effort to keep noise levels low, as the classrooms are adjacent. Parents with small children are encouraged to take them to the nursery rooms on the west side of the building. As space permits, a room may be designated as a quiet study hall.
All offices, utility rooms, supply closets, sports equipment (such as the pool table and foosball table), electronic equipment, and musical instruments are off limits to students unless accompanied by a teacher or board member.
Students who use the refrigerator must label their food and remove it before leaving campus. They may not use food or supplies (other than paper towels) belonging to West Oaks.
No food or drink (other than water) may be taken anywhere in the building except for the kitchen and the fellowship hall. However, teachers may allow food and drink in their classrooms, provided that they take responsibility for clean-up. Chewing gum is not allowed anywhere in the building.
The field south of the building is off limits when it is very wet.
Students may not possess or use tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, fireworks, or weapons while on campus. They may not bring animals (other than seeing-eye dogs) to campus.
Behavior outside of class
When they are not in class, students are not required to remain in the building or on campus. Those who do remain on campus may not disrupt any class or study hall that is in session.
There will be at least one teacher or board member present on campus at all times while campus is open. Since all teachers and board members have the authority to discipline students, it may be reasonably assumed that they will do so when they observe misbehavior occurring. However, this does not mean that Paideia will systematically note students’ arrival and departure or continuously monitor their presence and behavior outside of class. Parents who want more constant supervision of their children should make appropriate arrangements on their own.
Behavior in class
Students who are in class must obey all rules in this document, as well as any additional policies and instructions that the teacher may provide.
Academic dishonesty
A teacher who finds that a student has intentionally cheated on any coursework (e.g., submitting for credit a paper that someone else has written) will penalize the student accordingly. Normally, the minimum consequence will be a failing grade on the work in question; in the case of flagrant dishonesty or repeated incidents, the teacher may administer further penalties, such as a failing grade for the course. A teacher will report any incident of intentional cheating to the student’s parents and to the board. The student may appeal the decision to the board.
A teacher who finds that a student has unintentionally cheated on any coursework (e.g., plagiarism resulting from an honest misunderstanding of how to cite a source properly) may lower the student’s grade on the basis of the deficient quality of the work but will issue no further penalty. Since no discipline has been administered, the teacher is not required (but is permitted) to report the incident, and the student may not appeal the decision.
Dress code
Students are expected to dress in accordance with Biblical principles; for example, clothing should not be immodest or advertise inappropriate behavior. Students are also expected to abide by prevailing societal standards of personal cleanliness.
A student who arrives on campus dressed in a manner that a teacher or board member deems inappropriate will be directed to cover, remove, or fix the offending item of clothing. If it needs to be covered and the student has brought nothing suitable for doing so, then Paideia will provide a garment which the student will put on and will return when ready to leave campus for the day. A student who refuses to adjust his clothing as directed, or who fails to maintain that adjustment continuously until leaving campus, will be immediately required to leave campus for the day.
Extreme or repeated violations of the dress code may result in a student being immediately required to leave campus for the day, without being offered the opportunity to correct the violation.
