How the Grinch Fixed the Code of Conduct?

For my Argument Course, we were assigned to create an amendment to the GCE Code of Conduct, defending a necessary change in rules based upon your evaluation of its logical flaws. The purpose of this action project was to construct an argument to amend the Code of Conduct. I learned about the different fallacies. Below is my argument.

The idea in these equations is to sum all the forces on it and set them equal to ma. The interesting thing is how the equations tie together changes in all the different stress components, making them interdependent on each other, which is the same idea I wanted to introduce in my argument, this idea of equilibrium/equality. You would assume that a document that plays a major role in students'life wouldn't lacks their voices, but it does. "Equilibrium." Equilibrium. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

Schools have been writing Codes of Conduct for decades, but the role they play in shaping students’ behavior has changed dramatically. “The Code of Conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities of, or proper practices for, an individual, party or organization” (Wikipedia). These Codes of Conduct must be followed by students and are in effect during, after and school-related activities. The primary reason for a Code of Conduct is to maintain standards of an institution and set forth procedures necessary to protect and keep a learning environment.

I have crafted the following amendment to provide an alternative to the students’ contract for the Code of Conduct. This amendment rectifies the agreement portion of the Code of Conduct and allows students, including those who are new, to get a chance to discuss and modify the Code of Conduct before blindly agreeing to it. This amendment also states students’ rights, which shall not be denied or abridged by the Disciplinary council.

Preamble:

This amendment is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under the state and federal law and incorporating the students’ voice in a document that greatly affects them. In addition to providing civic/cognitive/emotional development and a safe school environment, all students have the right to:

Note: Many of the students’ rights include examples. The examples included are not intended to be the only things covered by the rights. The examples covered in the definition are included, but the definition/right is not limited to the examples given.

• 1. Have an equal chance to take part in any activities regardless of color, race, religious affiliations, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or class rank. 
• 2. Access to school rules and if necessary receives an explanation of those rules from staff. Staff includes, teachers, the disciplinary council, and counselors. 
• 3. Freedom of speech/expression provided that such right does not cause any disorder or disruption within the school. “Freedom of expression is the right of every individual to hold opinions without interference” (Wikipedia). This includes without limitations the right to express those views through speech, symbolism, and writing. I am fully aware that this portion of the students’ rights contradicts that of the Dress Code, which reads as follow “Clothing may not advocate or promote acts of violence, self-destruction, alcohol and drug consumption, racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, sexual or promiscuous behavior. Clothing which contributes to the creation of a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, social status, or sexual orientation is prohibited.” 
• 4. Rebuke or appeal against a decision made by the disciplinary council and has the right to a formal hearing. 
• 5. The rights stated in the FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), especially pertaining to parents or eligible students having the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading, and if the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information. 
• 6. Peacefully assemble and petition to add/remove/modify a rule in the Code of Conduct, provided they create an unsound argument against the rule. Students are limited to petition against 2 rules every two months. The decision of whether or not a rule can be added, removed or modified will be the Board’s responsibility. Before adopting any revision to the Code, the board will hold a public hearing at which staff, parents, guardians and students may participate. (Table of contents). 

The primary goal of this amendment is to guarantee that no part of the school government becomes too powerful. For example, the mandatory expulsion rule in the Code of Conduct states an exhaustive list of offenses that shall be automatically recommended by the DC for expulsion. The last bullet point “And other good and just causes as determined by the Dean of Behavior” stated in the mandatory expulsion section and the Code of Conduct itself gives a lot of power to the Dean of Behavior (DC). This amendment prevents the DC from misusing such power because it allows for a system based regulation that allows one side (students vs. staff) to limit another, which insures that no one has too much power. My co-signer states that “Learning is a process defined by the exchange of ideas and the advancement of knowledge. This amendment assures fairness while maintaining the true purpose of the Code of Conduct”.

As it stands, the Code of Conduct employs the Black or White fallacy which provides limited choices as the only choices, when there are others. “We are being forced into signing a document agreement that you might not agree with, because our only options are either signing it or not attending the school, which contradicts with the meaning of an agreement,” said AMK a peer of mine. Is being forced into signing an agreement really being in agreement with that agreement? I would argue that it isn’t!



Works Cited:

• "Table of Contents." Journal of Palestine Studies 35.2 (2006): n. pag. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. 
• "Student Code of Conduct." Student Code of Conduct. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015. <http://stuafs.unl.edu/ja/code>.
• "Equilibrium." Equilibrium. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://www.continuummechanics.org/cm/equilibrium.html>.