Article 14

Article XIV: School Discipline

Section 73. Absences. A pupil or student in a private school who incurs absences of more than twenty percent of prescribed number of class or laboratory periods during the school year or term should be given a failing grade and given no credit for the course or object.

Such discretion shall not excuse the student concerned from responsibility in keeping in keeping up with lesson assignments and taking examinations where indicated. Section 73 originally made it mandatory for schools to fail students with absences of more than 20% of the prescribed number of class or laboratory periods and to withhold credit for the course, but this is no longer a hard and fast rule. Students with excessive absences may now be allowed to continue in a course if the school head’s opinion such absences were justified.

Section 74. Authority to Maintain School Discipline. Every private school shall maintain good school discipline inside the school campus as well as outside the school premises when pupils or students are engaged in activities authorized by the school.

The school, its administrators and teachers, or the individual, entity or institution engaged in child care shall have special parental authority and responsibility over the minor child while under their supervision, instruction or custody.

Authority and responsibility shall apply to all authorized activities whether inside or outside the premises of the school, entity or institutions.

Section 75. Imposition of Disciplinary Action. School officials and academic personnel shall have the right to impose appropriate and reasonable disciplinary measures in case of minor offenses or infractions of good discipline committed in their presence. However, no cruel or physically harmful punishment shall be imposed or applied against any pupil or student.

The common penalties adopted by the school authorities include (1) the imposition of a fine, (2) requiring students to do extra...