Honor is the most important quality in a person’s character.  This principle has been at the heart
of Gilman School ever since its founding 1897; it remains the central precept by which
the school expects its students to conduct themselves. Nothing we teach our boys is worthwhile
if we do not also teach them to grow into honorable men. A sense of personal honor forms a
significant part of the third ideal that helps express the school’s mission: “Mind, Body, and Spirit.”

     Half the battle in conducting oneself honorably is being certain about what is honorable
and what is not. In some areas, the distinction is crystal clear even to a small child; in others,
however, it may not always be so easy to discern.  A prime example is the area of writing. 
Gilman prides itself on teaching its students how to express themselves precisely and articulately
in writing.  In this age of information proliferation, however, we feel we need to do more.
Special attention needs to be paid to giving boys the skills to guard their honor against even
unintentional encroachment on others’ ideas.

     Hence this publication, which is intended to give students and parents practical aids in
maintaining honorable writing practices. We hope it will be helpful, and we urge any member of
the community who has any questions or concerns about what constitutes honor in writing at any
time to speak to any Gilman teacher.