Academic Honesty Policy

Academic honesty is essential for learning and for maintaining a sense of mutual trust and respect within the Fieldston community. Teachers must know that all of the work students present orally or in writing is their own. To present the work of others as one’s own is dishonest.

Copying from another student’s test, using hidden notes, giving or receiving information on tests, and receiving help on take-home tests without the specific permission of the teacher are clearly dishonest and constitute cheating. An equally serious violation of academic honesty is plagiarism. This involves taking words, ideas, images, text, or data created by others, wherever one might find them, and presenting them as one’s own, without giving proper credit to the source. It includes the Internet and the copying and pasting of words, images, and data from a web site into a report or essay. The methods for using and citing these sources will be discussed in classes.

Students are expected to take responsibility for their own academic work within the guidelines established by teachers. Students should assume that all work, including homework, is to be done individually unless the teacher states that collaboration on a particular assignment is permitted. Any assistance a student receives from another person, including a parent, peer, or tutor, should be limited to help in understanding concepts and methods. Any help beyond this must be acknowledged.

The work on any assignment should be one’s own and not that of another person. When in doubt, students should either cite the source or consult their teacher. An open exchange of ideas and knowledge can be achieved only in an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding.