There are many inconsistencies in how students are punished. Many people get let off the hook after multiple offenses, while others who posed little to no threat receive full punishment.
The Fauquier County Public Schools’ (FCPS1) code of conduct states “Students may be subject to discipline for misconduct that occurs off school property when such misconduct includes acts that lead to: (1) an adjudication of delinquency or a conviction for an offense listed in §16.1-260 of the Code of Virginia (including unlawful purchase, possession or use of a weapon, homicide, felonious assault and bodily wounding, criminal sexual assault, manufacture, sale, gift, distribution or possession of Schedule I or II controlled substances or marijuana, arson and related crimes, and burglary and related offenses).” This means that if the situation harms people in the community, even when it occurs off school grounds, students can be punished by the school.
The code of conduct lays out the rules for students and the punishments they face if they break them. Unfortunately, sometimes incidents are punished to the highest or lowest degree, even if they do not fit what happened.
This inconsistency needs to be fixed, and students should be punished accordingly, with little discrepancy. Punishments should be based on the level of threat of the item brought in.
Student records should also be considered. Something seriously threatening to students or the school should receive harsh punishment, but if a student with no history brought a water gun, they would receive minimal punishment. Unfortunately, though, this is not how the policy works. Three seniors playing a known game of senior assassin brought water guns to the school in their cars. They received a punishment of 10 days suspension, no prom, and not being able to walk the stage at graduation. Students at FHS felt the unfairness of this punishment and organized a walkout. This helped gain the administrators' attention, and the punishment was reduced to a 3-day suspension, allowing them to attend prom and graduation.
This incident got people thinking, and questions were raised about how the policy can lay out the rules while also being slightly confusing and allowing room for interpretation by the schools. Rules should be laid out clearly, allowing students to see the severity of their actions and how they would be punished. This would make it easier for administrators as well, because they just have to follow the rules. The incident also highlights the inconsistency of the policy, as they received a punishment that was later reduced. While in this specific case it was deserved and the students were punished harshly, this still happens when students receive the appropriate punishment for their actions.
Having the rules clearly stated and following through with the punishment would allow students to see the consequences and, in theory, discourage them from repeating that action.
