Many high schools, colleges, and universities have honor codes or honor systems that are intended to cultivate integrity and prevent academically dishonest behavior such as cheat, steal and plagiarize. Honor codes may require students to write a statement on submitted work stating that the work is their property, to act as an advocate for honor codes, or honor codes may just be a rule that students must follow. Schools that already have honor codes have proven that honor codes are not effective, which is why Hammonton High School should not establish an honor code. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Honor codes, which often take the form of written positions, are ineffective because written words do not change a student's actions. At Lawrence Academy, a private boarding school in Massachusetts, the honor code required that "students write a statement of honor on each work submitted, stating that it was the result of their own thought and effort" (Source B). Written words are not only excessive but only serve as unnecessary reminders that remind students of what they already know. Every student will always know that cheating is plagiarism not allowed and they do not need a constant written reminder of something that will never leave their mind. An academically dishonest student who cheats and plagiarizes will not care about the words on their paper saying the world is all theirs and they cheat anyway. Regardless of whether or not there is a pledge of honor written on a piece of paper, taking someone else's work and claiming it as your own is the very definition of cheating or plagiarism. Some school honor codes are enforced by the student body, which is not effective because most students will not report their classmates or friends if they see them cheating. A survey conducted at a small private university shows that only 8% of students would report a fellow student for cheating and that 40% of students violated the honor code and went undetected (Source E). At the University of Virginia, the school's honor code requires that the student write an honor statement on every test. The honor code is controlled by the student body. Regardless, 157 students were involved in a cheating scandal (Source D). The low survey percentage and the huge number of students involved in the cheating scandal demonstrate that most students will not report their peers for dishonest behavior. Students fear that reporting their peers would create friction between them, and students are unlikely to report their friends by causing them to fail a test or expel them from a college. For these reasons, student-enforced honor codes are not effective. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay High schools should not establish an honor code because honor codes are ineffective. Writing words on a piece of paper will not prevent a dishonest student from cheating or plagiarizing, and honor codes enforced by students are not effective because students are unlikely to report their peers for cheating. Students at Hammonton High School already know that they are not allowed to cheat or plagiarize without being constantly reminded. They know that all their work is expected to be their own work and that there are consequences for cheating or plagiarism. An honor code would be redundant because it does nothing else, 27(2), 148-164.