“I will not lie, cheat, or steal.
I will respect the rights and well-being of myself and others.”
In April 1990, in response to concerns over the issues of morality and honesty, then-Director of College Counseling Elizabeth Ottinger and student Bridget Collins ‘90 were asked to co-chair a special committee charged with examining the issue of honor in the Upper School. The Committee, comprised of almost 30 students and the four Upper School class deans, was directed to focus on issues of honor, as opposed to conduct, in re-establishing the moral foundation of the School.
The Committee developed a simple code of honor that not only teaches and reinforces the internal checks and balances necessary in making ethical decisions in difficult situations but is also a personal commitment to the welfare of the community. The success of the honor code is dependent upon student investment and faculty/administrative support.
More than 30 years since it was defined, McDonogh’s Honor Code has withstood the test of time. At the beginning of each school year, Upper and Middle School students are reintroduced to the importance of the Honor Code, thus setting a tone and expectation for the months ahead.
