Fresno Unified students create "Code of Honor"

The school year is coming to a close at Hoover High School in Northeast Fresno, but next year green posters will set a higher standard for student behavior across the district. The Code of Honor includes six tenets dealing with respect, responsibility, and compassion. It was created completely by students, for students. "Teachers tell you what they expect of you and your parents tell you what they want of you. But you never tell yourself what you want and what your goal is. It's saying that," said Hoover High School Senior Mai Thao.

"Our school, if every student is doing that, it will be an environment where students want to go to school. They'll want to learn. They'll be excited about learning," said Allie Perkins, another Hoover High School Senior.

Thao and Perkins are just two members of the district's Student Advisory Board, which will present the code to Fresno Unified board members Wednesday. The students took on the project two years ago in hopes of sparking a change on campuses. "The student committee decided they wanted to do something that's more age appropriate, beyond what we're already done through the district with Character Counts," said Jose Guzman, a Fresno Unified Campus Culture Manager.

The students said they want to set their own standards and high expectations. The posters are just the beginning in their launch plan. They believe the six simple sentences will make all the difference. "If we follow these things, it's not just better for our high school, it's better for ourselves as people, really," said Perkins.