everyday examples of honor

One day recently, the Lost and Found folder on our campus email network carried a notice far different than the usual plaintive cries to return missing calculators, notebooks, and jackets. 

Seems that Zach Mendez, a 15-year-old ninth grader, had found a folded $10 bill on the floor between a couple of desks in his English classroom, turned it in, and then posted a message which read in part, " ... head on over to the front desk and claim your prize." 

Interesting, I thought, so I tracked Zach down and asked for the details. "My first reaction," he explained, "was that this was my lucky day. Then I got to thinking: If I'd lost $10, I'd want somebody to turn it in. Yeah, I pondered pocketing it, but I knew the money wasn't mine." He said the entire "pondering" process lasted all of about 45 seconds. 

Shortly after he left, I caught up with Will Harrison, a junior who had responded toZach's email with "GOOD MAN. Seriously, 99 out of 100 would definitely have pocketed (the cash)." 

"Zach was being thoughtful and kind," Will said. "That was really impressive. The way I see it, he wouldn't have gotten in trouble if he hadn't turned it in." 

True, stashing the bill in his pocket wouldn't have been a breach of the honor code. In fact, in my old neighborhood, the principle was known as "finders keepers, losers weepers." What Zach did, however, was noble, and I was even more impressed that he didn't consider it anything special. Which got me to thinking. 

Was his willingness to do the right thing typical of life here at Collegiate or was it an aberration? While we certainly don't have a monopoly on honesty, the virtue is an integral part of our culture and that of the many families that entrust their children to us. 

Charlie Blair, the Middle School head, reports that he often returns to his office to find a bill-$1, $5, or $10-or even loose change in his mailbox with a note that a child found it somewhere on the grounds. If the owner materializes, the cash is, of course, returned. Otherwise, it goes into the Ton-of-Coins tub at Halloween. 

Laura Fields, the assistant head of the Lower School, tells the story of a child who earlier this year found a broken key chain, took it to the office, and then told a friend what she had done. It's broken, said the friend. Why turn it in? The child answered simply, If it were yours, wouldn't you want it back? The message was that the key chain might not be worth anything to the person who found it, but it might have meaning to the one who lost it. 

"Our students come from home and school environments where honesty is considered a good thing," said Joel Nuckols, a faculty advisor to the Upper School honor council. "This is a community where people trust each other and want the best for each other. 

"There are some remarkably honest people here. We expect the best of our students, and they almost always rise to the occasion." 

We're not perfect by any means, and there're often shades of graysometimes many shades of gray-in situations involving honorable conduct. All things considered, though, in a world where corporate scandal has eroded trust and greed seems rampant, it's refreshing to see simple acts of honor that are truly their own reward.