To the point of the other thread about these policies, I’d love to know which schools say that they are “one-strike”. Cate is not, although they have a tough Honor Code and “health & wellness” reporting is taken very seriously. According to their presentation at revisit day, Episcopal High School is a “one-strike school”. I heard that Hotchkiss is as well. Any others? And how do they define “one-strike”?
And remember that balls and strikes are called by actual humans, so some callers will have a very strict strike zone and others will never call anything a strike unless it is too stupid to ignore.
As always, the best advice for kids at any school these days is to not take too many chances that might get them in serious trouble, but you know, they’re kids…
Woodberry Forest is a one-strike school.
The headmaster wrote an essay explaining the rationale to keep the policy:
https://woodberryforestschoolheadmaster.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2015/04/30/why-we-hold-the-line/
Does anyone else have links to school justifications for their choices of strike policy?
Hotchkiss is I believe.
Asheville School NC, 1 strike and was told by a staff member that they will announce infractions in all school meetings
I remember reading that Salisbury is a 1 strike and they went that route because they were having serious issues with drugs/alcohol. That was a while ago, though … I think a major problem with one-strike is that it may encourage the school or teachers/deans to ignore an infraction because the consequences are so huge.
Salisbury is two strikes now, according to the student panel on revisit day. I can definitely see the downside of a 1-strike policy in terms of infractions not being reported, and I’ve heard (about other schools) about subjectivity in applying the policy in any case, whether 1 or 2 strikes.
Hotchkiss is indeed a one strike school, with a Good Samaritan exception (you can take a friend under the influence to the infirmary for help without either of you suffering any disciplinary consequences). If you are actually caught with drugs/alcohol, you will be expelled. No matter who you are. That said, I think there are teachers who don’t go out of their way trying to catch kids, but if they get wind of some bad behavior going on, will try to connect with the kids informally and try to get them some help (or at least make clear that they’re at risk). Most Hotchkiss kids are in favor of the policy, as they feel that it’s more fair to have clear consequences (and for everyone, unlike what you hear about at some other schools) and that it helps with resisting peer pressure.
“If you are actually caught with drugs/alcohol, you will be expelled. No matter who you are”
The latter part lol… dont be naive. This is coming from someone who graduated with fond memories. Hotchkiss is many things - fair it is not.
Drugs at Choate is cause for immediate dismissal, alcohol is not. There is something, however, called “crisis intervention” where if you are drunk/high you go to the health center and ask for help, they can’t expel you.
"If a student nds himself or herself or a peer in a volatile physical or mental state induced by the use of drugs and/or alcohol, the Crisis Intervention Program may be invoked in two ways:
- when the student involved contacts or reaches the Health Center unassisted or with the aid of a fellow student;
- when a student contacts a faculty member, Community Safety O cer, or any school employee. The student is expected to start the conversation by stating his/her desire to invoke Crisis Intervention.
A student in the Crisis Intervention Program will not be disciplined, but must adhere to the conditions of the program:
- The student is placed on “No-Use,” and failure to adhere to the terms of the No-Use Policy will result in Dismissal (see No-Use Policy p. 16);
- The student will submit to evaluation and appropriate counseling and education;
- A dean or member of the Counseling Team will notify the students’ parents."
I feel like this is pretty commendable of Choate, but at the same time a serious loophole.
Its not a loophole - the school would rather help than have some kid in distress pass out and choke on his own vomit because he wouldn’t seek help for fear of being kicked out
The one strike does not always get exercised. I think they realize if they did that, they might find they are dismissing a significant number of their student population each year. My kid has been aware of many instances starting with her freshman year of kids being caught with alcohol or violating other rules and there is give in the interpretation of the rules. No interest in getting in to more detail but there is room for interpretation. So is that fair? Is it right? If kid A makes the same offense as Kid B but application of a strike is handled differently, is it fair for one kid’s admitted colleges be notified while the other gets off with a clean record?
@Korab1 I feel like it’s hard to believe that no kid has never used it as a loophole when they’re intoxicated and terrified of getting caught…
@“Nico.campbell” of course they have - but if it saves one life, isn’t it worth it?
Every school I am aware of, whether they be 1 strike or multiple strike schools, all have some form of amnesty.
@Korab1 oh no I totally agree that it’s a good thing because it can save lives! I misunderstood and felt like you were arguing the fact that kids have used it as a loophole. Never mind :)>-
Phillips Academy Andover has a “Sanctuary” policy where if a kid is in trouble from drugs or alcohol, the child or another student can call sanctuary (if no faculty or other adults are already involved) and no disciplinary action is taken, nor is the student required to inform on others involved.
As a practical matter, some house councilors and deans will continue to pressure the student to “sanctuary” the others involved, or other, indirect disciplinary actions follow.
A key question is are the 1 strike for certain transgressions and more strikes for others?
The one strike offenses are listed specifically in the student and parent handbooks, and typically include drugs or alcohol not falling under a sanctuary provision, honor code violations, etc.
Other transgressions such has tobacco, curfew violations, bullying, etc. might be just result in demerits. Or, if they are bad enough, they might be handled under the head of school’s discretion to dismiss for anything that brings discredit to the school standard, which is obviously pretty broad.
Schools will expel students for dealing drugs & alcohol, and for physically attacking other students. There are some offenses which are instant “Outs.” Some of those offenses must be reported to the local police.
…And when that happens the students may be questioned by an investigator without their own lawyer or parent present.