The Ida B. Wells Community Academy
 

Students' and Parents' Handbook
on Student Rights and Responsibilities
 

novi quid ex Africa
"Everything new comes out of Africa"  – Pliny
 
 

Introduction
Letter from the Chair of the  Advisory Board 
Why Have a Statement of Rights and Responsibilities?

Part I
Standards of Behavior
     The Nguzo Saba
     The Responsibilities of Walimu and Wanafunzi
     The Role and Responsibility of Faculty and Staff
The Ida B . Wells Community Academy School Day
BE AWARE: Things All Students, Parents and Faculty Should Know and Remember
Standards for Good Institutional Behavior
Don't Break These Laws
Select Catalog of Criminal Offenses
Searches and Confiscations

Part II
Due Process
Consequences for Violating Standards of Behavior
How to Appeal
Table of Violations and Consequences
 
 

This Students' and Parents' Handbook was prepared as a summary and reference guide to assist students, parents and administrators in following the Ida B. Wells Community Academy's academic and behavioral regulations. The Statement of Rights and Responsibilities is provided as a guide and should always be referred to should you have any questions. The Statement of Rights and Responsibilities contains the rules of the IBWCA learning community and presents the Standard of Behavior for students, faculty and administrators are expected to follow. 

Part I:

Section I:  Standards of Behavior

To be a good student (and faculty member) at the Ida B. Wells Community Academy follows, among other things, a basic three-part set of rules. 

       "Start of the School Day" Program 

     A. At the beginning of each school day, Students and Faculty are required to participate in 

         1. singing the African American National Anthem, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," 

         2. participating in the daily ritual of "Paying Tribute to ing the Ancestors" and 

         3. reciting the IBWCA Pledge

     B. Students are required to practice at school, at home, at work and at play the values contained in 

1. UMOJA (Unity)

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. 
 
2. KUJICHAGULIA (Self-Determination)

To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others. 
 
3. UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility)

To build and maintain our community together and make our sister's and brother's problems our problems and to solve them together. 
 
4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics)

To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. 
 
5. NIA (Purpose)

To make our collective vocation the building and developing our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. 
 
6. KUUMBA (Creativity)

To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial then we inherited it. 
 
7. IMANI (Faith)

To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

THE MWALIMU (TEACHER) — MWANAFUNZI (STUDENT) relationship is of major importance and must be understood and adhered to if an atmosphere of learning, discipline, and respect is to be created. In the final analysis, we are all students, but some of us have been students longer and have acquired a body of knowledge that must be passed on to those who are just entering formal life-studies. We call the teacher MWALIMU and the student being introduced to knowledge, we refer to as MWANAFUNZI. No institutions can advance intellec- tually, culturally, or politically, unless there are dedicated and sincere WALIMU with an equally committed WANAFUNZI. The Mwalimu and the Mwanafunzi are equally responsible to each other and must develop an unbreakable trust between themselves.

        1. Be the example of what you teach. Your personal contradictions can wipe out years of hard work. You must be direction for the young, be what you teach, exemplifying the Black Value System — NGUZO SABA. 

        2. Always impart knowledge with an eye on reality. Pull your examples from the real world that we are involved in daily. High sounding philosophy belongs in philosophy classes that divorce themselves from life. Knowledge without understanding and practical application is like owning land without being able to cultivate it.

        3. Never tire of teaching. An instructor who believes in what he is teaching can teach anywhere and at anytime and is always prepared to teach; his lifestyle should be a lesson. Concentrate on the four ingredients for an African reality: to work, to study, to create, and to build.

        4. The developing of the moral, spiritual, and physical well-being of the students is of the uppermost imperative. A student should never be held back — in fact, a teacher should be eager for his student to surpass him; this is a reward for doing his job well.

        5. In order to develop the communal spirit to the highest, the instructor must be conscious of and concerned about the student' s well being outside the classroom. Make sure that the student has all basic needs in order to develop his mind, body, and spirit .

        6. The student should be encouraged to investigate all areas of life-studies. The student should be given equal time and attention in accordance with his personal ability. Push the complimentary and cooperative aspects of learning and encourage involvement with man and nature, and independent study. Never betray a trust, and discipline should be strict, quick, and fair .

        7. All teaching should be based upon tradition and reason, and be taught theoretically and scientifically, the emphasis always on Afrikan man in relation to his community — community-centered rather than man-centered; emphasizing the responsibility of the students to their community, organization, and family; always communal ism over commercialism.

The following points should be observed by all WANAFUNZI ( Students ):

        1. The student is the nation becoming. The good student never tires of learning. The secret of knowledge is that the good students can learn anything, anyplace, and any time.

        2. The good student is committed — committed to the institution/organization, committed to his people, and committed to the acquisition of knowledge that will aid his people — therefore aiding himself.

        3. The good student lives the Black Value System — Nguzo Saba — and is the example for the younger brothers and sisters .

        4. The good student knows that to move from black purpose to Afrikan Reality four ingredients are needed: Work, Study, Creativity, and Building.

        5. Remember that a student' s conduct outside the organization reflects the organization. To do in justice one day out of 365 days could wipe out the whole year' s work.

        6. The spirit of sharing and learning; must be with the student at all times. But if he does not know any thing — there will be nothing for him to share.

        7. The student must develop good study habits, always show a willingness to learn, and always be respectful to the instructor. Address all male instructors with [Mr. or Doctor] and all female instructors with [Mrs., Ms. or Doctor.]

        8. Knowledge without understanding and practical application is useless — if you do not understand something ask questions. One who continually asks questions does not show stupidity or ignorance — he shows a thirst for knowledge. One who nits and absorbs everything without question is — like a sponge — with his head is full of water. Challenge your instructors to give you all the knowledge they have.

Section III:  Role and Responsibility of Faculty, Parents and Staff

        1. Never be overawed by authority. Not at any time whatever, nor for any reason whatsoever, can any one with safety or profit permit his faculty-of-thought to take a "sabbatical," least of all when that individual's mind is exposed to the thoughts of other people.

        2. Be open to conviction, but refuse to be convinced until conviction becomes a necessity. In other words, do not imprison your mind in the padded cell of the comfortable rut of your own preferred beliefs, prejudices, biases, or egocentricity.

        3. Read little, think deeply — and much. Avoid acquiring the grasshopper mind. Books are highly suggestive, therefore, choose your authors with care. Take time to think through the full implications and connotations of what you read, testing its validity from as many angles as you can. Even nourishing food leads to indigestion if swallowed whole. Avoid mental indigestion at all costs. It is not to be cured merely by going to the Drug Store!

        4. Seek TRUTH and pursue it, to the extent of remaking your own mind no matter what the cost, should it become necessary. Never forget that the "superstitions" of today were the "truths' of yesterday; the "truths" of today will be the "superstitions" of tomorrow. Do not allow them "permanent residence" in your mind. Seek not mere "knowledge" but UNDERSTANDING. Perchance WISDOM may follow. One thing is certain: Only when the rational mind is stilled can the ears of Understanding open to the voice of Wisdom.

        5. If you must lie, lie to others; they will find you out and know you for the fool that you are. But if you lie to yourself, you are a lost fool.

        6. Learn to "think beyond the thoughts of men that lean on things they see." Inevitably they become "obsessed by the perceptible to such an extent that, for them, thinking has become synoymous with repeating parrot-fashion the cast-off-thoughts of others, with less intelligence than the (so-called) "dumb" animals. On no account should you visit that Club, much less join it.

        7. Make it your golden rule, never to be broken, NOT under any circumstances to consult any author on any subject until you shall first have thought deeply about it — meditative act — and shall have reached some conclusions, no matter how tentative. Remember at all times: NOTHING BELONGS TO YOU EXCEPT YOUR MIND HAS HAD A HAND IN ITS FORMULATION. The moral is obvious: ensure by every means at your disposal, that your mind is actively functioning on oiled wheels, and that it functions as your servant and not your enslaver .

        8. Heed well the words of Herbert Spencer: "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance: That Principle is contempt prior to investigation."

7:30 - 8:15 - Breakfast served in cafeteria 

7:45 - All teachers are in their classrooms planning and providing extra help to those who need it. 

8:15 - Entrance bell to school 

8:20 - Announcements 

9:40 - 9:55 - A-wing Recess 

10:00 - 10:15 - B-wing Recess 

10:14 - 10:30 - Break/Channel 1 in C-wing 

10:50 - 11:45 - A-wing Lunch / Recess 

11:20 - 12:10 - B-wing Lunch / Recess 

11:52 - 12:37 - C-wing Lunch / Recess 

1:30 - 1:45 - A-wing Recess 

1:50 - 2:05 - B-wing Recess 

2:39 - Announcements 

2:43 - Dismissal of first bus students 

2:49 - Dismissal of walkers & second bus students 

This daily schedule may change. 

BE AWARE: Things All Students, Parents and Faculty Should Know and Remember

Fire drills will be held so that students will know the evacuation procedure. When you hear the fire alarm you should immediately walk out of the building according to the route designated 
in each room. Simply follow the arrows and room numbers. Once outside you are to stay with 
your group so that the teacher can check the attendance. 

If you find that you are having difficulty in any of your subjects, please ask for help from your 
teacher. See your teacher before school, after school or during recess. Don't wait too long 
before seeking help. 

In order to cover the subject matter expected of students, it is essential to assign homework in most of your subjects. Check with your teachers for the proper way to study their subjects. 
Learning to study will be the key to your success. 

If a student, (grade 6 - 8), has an average of 85 or higher with no grade lower than a 77, his/her name is published on the Honor Roll. This list is posted after each nine-week ranking period. 

Lockers are assigned to each student in grades six through eight at the beginning of the school year. These lockers remain the property of the School District. For good reason school officials have the right to inspect any or all lockers. If a student wishes to provide his/her own padlock, it is required that a duplicate key or the combination be on file with the homeroom teacher. 

A lost and found box is located in the front entrance. Students and parents are encouraged to 
check the box for lost items. 

When a student is absent, all work including tests and homework assignments must be made up on the student's own time. The normal time allotted for make-up is one day for each day 
absent. However, extenuating circumstances may require the teacher or administrator to grant a longer time period to complete make-up work. 

Any student receiving an incomplete on his/her rank card will have one week (7 days) after the day rank cards are issued to complete assigned work. However, extenuating circumstances 
may require the teacher or administrator to grant a longer time period to complete make- up 
work. (One week equals 7 calendar days.) 

All students are personally responsible for their own possessions and belongings. Students are encouraged to mark all clothing (especially physical education material and equipment). 
Please do not leave any of your things lying around. Items such as radios, boom boxes, 
walk-man, radio controlled cars, roller blades, and skate boards should not be brought to 
school. 

Students should not plan celebrations or parties without permission from the teacher and 
principal. 

School dances may be held periodically during the school year. These dances will be 
sponsored by the student council or another school organization, after receiving approval from 
the principal. Dances may be open to students of grades 6 through 8, or only 7 and 8, 
depending on the theme, and generally run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Please listen to local television and radio stations. 

The district provides insurance forms from a private insurer for coverage at a very reasonable 
cost. Forms are distributed at school, but all premiums and claims are handled directly by the company. 

Collection of breakfast and noon lunch money will be on Monday mornings in the cafeteria 
(gym) from 7:30 until 8:15. Money brought in during the week should be brought directly to the office. All lunches and breakfasts must be paid in advance on a weekly basis. 

Forms regarding the school lunch program are distributed by the office. 

Breakfast is available for all students. 

Students are expected to have their own pens, notebooks, and paper for note taking. Student 
possessions should be marked with their name. 

The Student Council was organized to promote better pupil-teacher and pupil-pupil relations. 
Members of the student council work on common concerns and various school projects. 

Students are allowed to bring visitors only if they have made arrangements with their 
teacher(s) and the principal at least one day in advance. Please do not bring a visitor to school without prior approval. 

You are expected to arrive at class on time. Each teacher is responsible for insuring that 
students are prompt. If another teacher has detained you, you should secure a pass from 
him/her. 

Please report to the office where you will be marked tardy and a pass to enter class will be 
issued. 

A student who is ill or injured should immediately report to a teacher or other adult who will 
take appropriate action. Every effort will be made to contact the parent or guardian but the 
school will secure emergency treatment if necessary. It is the parent or guardian 's 
responsibility to pay for any emergency services rendered. 

The telephone may be used by students only in case of emergency during the school day. 
Students will not be called from class to answer the phone. Messages will be taken by the 
office and delivered at times that do not interrupt classes. 

Elementary guidance services are available. Counselors provide services to all students. 
Through individual and group activities, students learn to improve their communication skills, 
acquire a better understanding of themselves, and learn better coping skills and problem 
solving behaviors. Counselors are also available as good listeners and play a supportive role to any student with concerns they wish to discuss. 

Private conversations with the counselor will be kept confidential. Any student can see a counselor by asking his/her teacher or by making an appointment at the office. 

Library books may be taken out on a weekly basis. Students may go to the library with a 
teacher as part of a class or before school, during activity period, or after school, provided they have a pass from a teacher. 

Students will be required to pay fines for overdue books. 

Students in grades seven and eight are offered a variety of allied arts programs. Included in 
the curriculum are: home economics, technology ed., classroom music, instrumental music, 
physical education, and drama. 

The school nurse is available to help students with health needs Monday through Wednesday 
from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. 

The IBWCA Bank is designed to provide its students with a financial, econokic and business experience at an early age. It is open on Friday afternoons from 12:00 until school closing at 3:30 p. m. 

Section IV:  Standards of Good Institutional Behavior

IBWCA stresses also a comprehensive set of behavioral standards which include student rights, responsibilities, school rules and Institutional standards. Students, parents, faculty and staff should treat others as they want to be treated. Everyone should strive to be a good citizen of the IBWCA learning community. A good citizen of the IBWCA learning community: 

• is courteous, safe, and productive;
• cares about learning; 
• cares about him or her self; 
• cares about his or her family, neighborhood and community;
• strives to help his or her fellow students
• cares about and thinks of others;
• desires to excel in school, at home and in life;
• cares about safety; 
• follows IBWCA rules; 
• cooperates with teachers and other IBWCA staff;
• respects the differences of others; 
• is responsible for his or her actions; 
• respects the property of others; and
• respects the IBWCA facility.

• Students have the right to learn and be safe, and in turn should show respect to others. 
• Students who violate the rights of others to receive an education will face the consequences of their actions. Violating the rights of others includes being disruptive, harassing others, fighting, stealing and breaking other rules. 
• Students with disabilities are expected to follow the rules. The Statement of Rights and Responsibilities document will not restrict the rights of these students as they relate to disability laws. 

• Parents or guardians are responsible for making sure their children attend school every day, and arrive for school on time. 

• Teachers have a duty to teach. 
• Teachers are responsible for student behavior in the classroom and to provide helpful, constructive direction. 
• Teachers may remove students from a class or discipline students. Both of these actions, however, must not be done without clear and definite cause.

• The principal or his or her representative is responsible for making sure students receive an appropriate education.
• The principal or his or her representative may discipline, suspend and/or recommend students for expulsion for justified reason. 

• The Statement of Rights and Responsibilities applies at school and at school activities.
• In addition, the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities applies to acts that start on the school's premises and are completed off school grounds; on school buses and at school bus stops; they also apply to acts that happen off school grounds but affect the school's reputation or the well-being, safety, or morals of the school's students. 

• Right: All students should start school at the same time to avoid classroom disruptions. 
• Responsibility: Students must attend school every day during the school year unless excused. 
• Parents are responsible for making sure students attend school every day and are at school on time. 

• Tardiness or absence from school without a parent's earlier permission, or for other unacceptable reasons, will not be excused. In addition, truancy violations may be reported to the police. 

• Right: Students have a right to receive their education without disruptive behavior from others. Students also have a right to a safe environment. 
• Responsibility: Students have a responsibility to cooperate with school staff. Disruptive behavior interferes with school, other students' safety and with school activities. 

• moving around the classroom without permission;
• breaking classroom or school rules;
• talking back in a disrespectful way; 
• being defiant with school staff;
• swearing, and other unacceptable language;
• use of put-downs (unflattering gestures or speech); and
• making an unsafe situation for others, which includes: 

Identify Yourself to Faculty, Staff and Administrators

• Right: Students have a right to feel safe by knowing that their parents can be contacted in an emergency and that school staff can identify unknown visitors to their school. 

Responsibility: Students and their parents are responsible for giving the school their correct name, address and telephone number. If asked, students must tell school faculty, staff and administrators who they are. 

• Right: Parents must give written permission for students to answer IBWCA authorized surveys or educational research questionnaires that ask about personal or private family affairs that are not public information.
• Responsibility: IBWCA will find it necessay to conduct professional educational research which uses students and/or their parents as respondents. Personal information gained during this research will be kept confidential.

• Right: Students may speak their opinions as long as they do not interfere with others speaking their opinions. 
• Responsibility: Swearing, slander, racial slurs and other unacceptable language is not allowed. 

• Right: Students may meet together with the principal's permission. 
• Responsibility: Demonstrations or meetings that interfere with learning are not allowed. 

• Right: Students may express their opinions in publications. Students may hand out fliers, leaflets and newspapers with permission from the principal. Sales of literature not authorized by the Advisory Board is not allowed on school property.
• Responsibility: Students should use responsible journalism and good judgment in any publications they publish, as defined in the Canons of Journalism which will be available in the principal's office.
• Right: Faculty also enjoy to right to publish their curriculum related ideas and lessons plans, scholarly articles, and research findings in profession and trade journals, newsletters, webpages, etc.

• Right: Every student should have a safe environment in which to learn.
• Responsibility: Students must wear clean clothes that are safe for the student and others, and are in good taste. 
• The Advisory Board will prescribe a standard uniform dress code which all student will be required to wear. Parents will be advised of this dress code prior to the start of each school year.
• Students may wear/display buttons, armbands, flags, decals or other badges unless such items break the IBWCA standard uniform dress code.

Exception: Groups which may threaten the safety of students or others will be defined as gangs and are not allowed. Clothes, jewelry, accessories or looks that might show membership in these and other restricted organizations are not allowed. Participation in restricted activities, including initiation, is not allowed. 

• Right: Students and staff have the right to a school that is free from discrimination, harassment, hazing or violence.
• Responsibility: Students should respect the differences of others. Harassment is not tolerated. Harassment includes ridiculing, harassing, intimidating or threatening anyone. 

• Discrimination is showing prejudice by making mean remarks toward others, or using violence, or damaging someone's belongings because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or looks. Remarks not allowed include name calling, racial slurs or jokes or threats of harm. 

• Harassment is when someone pesters, annoys, alarms, or abuses another person or group because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or looks. Harassment also includes being offensive and creating a hostile, abusive or unsafe school or work environment. 

• Sexual harassment is behavior that includes unwelcome advances, physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature, which includes but is not limited to: 

 

 

a. verbal harassment or abuse;
b. inappropriate patting or touching. 

• Students who believe they have been discriminated against or harassed should report it to their school principal. 
• The IBWCA principal will investigate and inform the IBWCA's Advisory Board who act as its Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) office, and request their advice and adjudication of the incident. 
• Students may also report the incident directly to an outside agency, such as the City of Akron Equal Rights Commission, the City Ombudsman, the State of Ohio Human Rights Commission, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the Office for Civil Rights.

• Right: Students and staff have the right to be safe. Students involved in crimes threaten the  safety of others in the school community. 
• Responsibility: Students should avoid bad  situations. If students participate in unacceptable behavior, they must face the consequences of their actions including simple discipline, suspension or being expelled from school. 
• Students who violate laws, including those listed below, may face additional consequences. This list does not include a definition of all crimes, and is only a summary. 

Aiding and abetting: helping someone in any way commit a crime.
Arson: causing or starting a fire or setting off an explosion, including fireworks.
Assault: injuring someone on purpose. 
Attempt: taking action to commit a crime. 
Attendance: Daily attendance of all who are enrolled in the District schools is required in 
     accordance with State law and School Board rules. Students will attend regularly 
     scheduled classes unless officially excused. 
Burglary: entering an unauthorized room or building illegally, and planning to commit
    a crime.Criminal impersonation: identifying yourself as someone else and trying to be 
    deceitful, or helping someone commit a fraud. 
Criminal mischief: vandalism, including removing, damaging, destroying, defacing, or 
     mutilating objects, materials, or property belonging to others. 
Cooperation with school personnel: Students must obey the lawful instructions of all 
     IBWCA district personnel. 
Disruptive conduct: Disruptive behavior and/or appearance which interferes with the
     normal school program, the educational process, or the lawful activities of others is 
     prohibited. 
Extortion or blackmail: threatening others to gain money, property, or to get them to do
     something for you. 
Forgery: signing another person's name on a document, altering a document, or having a 
     forged document. 
Off-campus events: Students at school-sponsored off-campus events shall be governed by 
     school district rules and regulations and shall be subject to the authority of school district 
     personnel. 
Reckless endangerment: creating a risky situation that might cause injury to another 
     person. 
Robbery: stealing from another person by force or threatening force. 
Self identification: All students in IBWCA facilitiess or on school grounds, or at 
     IBWCA-sponsored events must, upon request, identify themselves to authorized IBWCA
     personnel or their designee. 
Selling and/or possessing alcohol or other drugs: selling, trading, using or possessing 
     alcohol or illegal drugs. 

* The school official in charge shall immediately remove from contact with other students anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs and thereupon shall contact the arent/guardian and law enforcement officials. 

Smoking and/or possessing tobacco products: using or possessing tobacco, including
     cigarettes, cigars, or tobacco in a container. Students are not permitted to smoke on 
     school property. Using, giving, selling, or possessing cigarettes or other tobacco products 
     is prohibited.
Soliciting: talking another person into committing a crime. 
Trespass: entering or remaining on another person's property without permission, or refusing
     to leave if asked by the property owner. 
Theft: stealing from another person. 
Weapons and Guns/Firearms Policy: NO GUNS ALLOWED.

Students are not allowed to bring weapons or guns/firearms to school or school events. 

Weapons that are not allowed at school include guns/firearms (a weapon designed to shoot or explode), pellet and BB guns, air guns, spring guns, zip guns, stun guns, shockers, bombs or other explosives, poison, dangerous or deadly gas, slingshots, bludgeons, throwing stars, knives, clubs, brass knuckles, or artificial knuckles of any kind, numchucks and throwing weapons. 

Consequences for violating the weapons or guns/firearms policy: 

Students found with any guns/firearms face expulsion and arrest. 

Students found with weapons or look-alike weapons (see guns/firearms) of any kind face suspension, or expulsion, and arrest. 

Weapons and firearms: Students shall not carry on their person, or place anywhere on school property, or in the vicinity of a school sponsored event, any firearms or other weapons, except as assigned to students for, and used during, a regular course of instruction. However, if in a regular course of instruction or during an authorized activity, a weapon is used in an unauthorized manner, the student will be in violation of this provision. Students found with any firearms* while subject to the jurisdiction of the school are subject to expulsion and arrest. Students found with weapons, or look-alike weapons of any kind, while subject to the jurisdiction of the school are subject to suspension or expulsion, and arrest. 

Searches and Confiscations

• Right: All searches should take place in the presence of the student and another person. The search will be done in a way that shows respect for the student and their belongi