DISCIPLINE
Every student has a fundamental right to a free public education and a corresponding
responsibility to join with other members of the school community in respecting the rights and
responsibilities of others in establishing a climate for learning within the school
It is impossible for teaching and learning to take place in a classroom unless good order is
maintained. Good discipline is more than the maintenance of school and classroom order. It has as
its ultimate objective the development of self disciplined individuals who are accountable,
responsible and respectful.
It is a Haddon Township High School goal to create a positive educational environment that
will encourage students to consistently maintain high standards of self-discipline and good
citizenship. In order to reach this goal, students are expected to respect the person, property and
rights of each other, respect the legitimate authority of the school, its teachers and administrators,
and act responsibly and with courtesy at all times. Students are responsible for their actions and
behavior and will be held accountable for any breach of school rules and regulations. In accordance
with the school disciplinary policy and procedures, students are expected to:
1. Act in accordance with reasonable standards of socially accepted behavior.
2. Respect the rights, property, possessions and safety of all members of the school community.
3. Preserve the degree of order necessary to establish a safe and orderly educational
environment.
4. Obey school rules and regulations and respect the legitimate authority of the school, its
teachers and administrators.
Students who fail to obey school rules and regulations will be disciplined appropriately by the
principal or his/her designee. Students are to behave in a courteous, respectful manner and to
submit to the authority of teachers and administrators at all times. Parents of students will be held
responsible for any damage to school property.
Suspension
Suspension is a function of a school administrator and is a serious disciplinary sanction which
may be imposed on students when they have materially and substantially interfered with the good
order of school.
Conduct which shall constitute good cause for suspension shall include, but not be limited to,
any of the following:
1. Continued and willful disobedience.
2. Open defiance of the authority of any teacher or person having authority over him.
3. Conduct of such character as to constitute a continuing danger to the physical well being of
other pupils.
4. Physical assault upon another student or upon any teacher or other school employee.
5. Truancy.
6. Continued lateness to school or class.
7. Cutting classes, study halls, detentions and Saturday detentions.
8. Smoking (automatic suspension). Any student holding a lighted cigarette or other form of
tobacco, or exhaling smoke will be considered to be smoking. A second violation of the No
Smoking rule will result in a referral to the Haddon Township Police.
9. Use or possession of controlled, dangerous substances (automatic suspension).
10. Fighting (automatic suspension).
11. Taking, or attempting to take personal property or money from another student or from his
presence, by means of force or intimidation.
12. Willfully causing, or attempting to cause, substantial damage to school property.
13. Participation in an unauthorized occupancy by any group of students or others of any part of
the school property, and failure to leave such school or other facility promptly after having
been directed to do so by the principal or other person then in charge of the building or
facility.
14. Incitement which is intended to and does result in unauthorized occupation by any group of
pupils or others of any part of a school or other facility owned by any school district.
15. Incitement which is intended to and does result in truancy by other pupils.
16. Leaving school grounds without permission.
17. Use of racial and/or ethnic slurs.
18. Any other offenses which constitute a breach of approved school rules and regulations.
19. Possession of a weapon (automatic suspension and hearing before the Superintendent).
20. Use of profanity and/or obscene language.
Suspensions may lengthen as the violations continue. First suspension results in one to three
days in the in-school suspension room; a second suspension, from one to three days; a third
suspension, from three to five days; a fourth or fifth suspension may be five to ten days. On the
occasion of a third, fourth or fifth suspension, a student may be placed on disciplinary probation and
be restricted in his/her privilege to participate in school activities. The specific length of the
suspensions shall be determined by the building administrator.
A conference between a school administrator and the parent or guardian is required for
readmission to class following a suspension. Conferences after a first, second, or third suspension
are held in the attendance office with an assistant principal; the conference following a fourth
suspension shall be in the principal's office with the principal; the conference following a fifth
suspension shall be with the Superintendent of Schools at the district administration office.
page contents