This Week
Wednesday, January 24
• 6pm | School Board meeting | Hall Library
Thursday, January 25
• School Site Council Meeting
Friday, January 26
• Old Lunch Program Ends
Upcoming
Monday, January 29
• New Lunch Program Begins
(Winter/Spring 2007 menu)
Wednesday, January 31
• 12:30 | District Advisory Committee
Thursday, February 1
• 8:45 | Superintendent’s Coffee Chat
Wednesday, February 7
• 7:30pm | Schools Foundation Meeting
February 19-23
• NO SCHOOL | Mid-Winter Recess
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Academic Honesty
During the past few weeks we have uncovered several instances of students violating the Hall Academic Honesty Policy (see Binder Reminder p. 8). I would like to take this opportunity to share some information and open a dialogue concerning academic integrity at Hall Middle.
Run a Google search on “academic integrity” and, like me, you will discover the Center of Academic Integrity or CAI. The CAI is a consortium of over 390 educational institutions and is affiliated with the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University. Its roots can be traced back to the 1990’s when Professor Donald McCabe of Rutgers University conducted research at 31 universities and found that more than 75 percent of college students cheat at least once during their undergraduate years. In 1992, Professor McCabe and a group of select professors from Stanford, Northwestern, and the University of Maryland took action launching the CAI as a step to raise awareness among universities.
More recently, Who’s Who Among High School Students conducted a study and found that 80 percent of high-achieving, college-bound high school students have cheated, and that more than half do not consider cheating serious.
Many of you who have sons or daughters attending local high schools may be very familiar with academic honesty policies and the successes and challenges of these programs. I worked at a Marin County public high school prior to joining Hall and can tell you cheating is not uncommon. Much of the data that I stumbled across during my short Google journey suggests cheating in high schools is a daily occurrence and on the rise.
What is particularly alarming here at the middle school is that many of our students support findings from the Who’s Who study. They do not consider cheating serious. Other students I have met with suggested that they were not aware, for example, that copying another student’s homework or plagiarizing a research paper (mostly a cut and paste exercise using information from the Web) was wrong or against school policy. Others shared that the pressures, mostly placed on them by mom and dad, simply got the best of them…just this one time. Each of these scenarios begs the question, “Where do we go from here?”
The Hall faculty and staff recognize that we, like many institutions, face growing challenges related to academic integrity. I am encouraged knowing teachers are leading whole-class discussions about academic honesty. The Academic Integrity policy is modeled after Redwood’s policy and is included in the Binder Reminder. Daniel and I are visiting homerooms to review our policy, to stress the importance of honesty and trust, and to clarify any student questions. I strongly encourage you to review this policy and talk about good decisions and practice as it relates to homework, writing papers and taking exams. But is there something more?
One of my colleagues recently shared her copy of Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point. Gladwell takes a look at how and why change happens a quickly and unexpectedly as it does. He suggests that ideas and behaviors flourish like outbreaks of infectious diseases and that the smallest changes in a system can make huge and everlasting differences. Is it idealistic for Hall Middle to strive for absolute academic integrity? What are the small changes we along with countless other academic institutions can make to help us change the ideas and behaviors across the school? I believe that with your input and our ability to address this reality as a community we can make a difference. Please share your thoughts or suggestions with Daniel dnorbutas@marin.k12.ca.us and I aboone@marin.k12.ca.us .
- Daniel Norbutas & Andy Boone
- Hall Principal & Assistant Principal
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Geography Bee Winner
Congratulations to Kate Anderson for winning the 2007 Hall Middle School Geography Bee on January 11. Daniel Matteo was a close second, while Grace Gravley came in third place. Congratulations to all who participated: Maggie Doyle, Samantha Sconyers, Amanda Sinrod, Connor Donnelly, and Aaron Strand.
- Brenda Poletti
Hoop Dreams Continue
The 6th Grade Boys Hall Basketball Team continues what is sure to be a great season with our next home game tomorrow, Tuesday, against Kent Middle School. Thanks to 7th Graders Markus Reid and Leedan Trau for practicing with the team to prepare them for the competition and to Peggy Quinn for assisting Doug Silva in organizing our first season. Thanks also to Andy Boone for his excellent officiating at our season opener against Miller Creek -- and for all the teachers, staff, students and parents who attended to cheer the Cougars on. Game time is 3:30 pm at the Hall Gym. Come out and show your Hall spirit and watch some amazing basketball!
- Laurie Dubi
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