Ethics and High School Students in the U.S.
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From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
Ethics and High School Students in the U.S.
I came across this article from the Associated Press on "High School Students and Ethics Surveys." Pretty troubling to say the least, but not surprising really.
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LIE, CHEAT and STEAL: High School Ethics Surveyed
30 Percent of Students Have Stolen From a Store; 64 Percent Have Cheated:
Updated 2:39 P.M. ET, Sun. November 30, 2008
NEW YORK - In the past year, 30 percent of U.S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test, according to a new, large-scale survey suggesting that Americans are too apathetic about ethical standards.
Educators reacting to the findings questioned any suggestion that today's young people are less honest than previous generations, but several agreed that intensified pressures are prompting many students to cut corners.
"The competition is greater, the pressures on kids have increased dramatically," said Mel Riddle of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "They have opportunities their predecessors didn't have (to cheat). The temptation is greater."
The Josephson Institute, a Los Angeles-based ethics institute, surveyed 29,760 students at 100 randomly selected high schools nationwide, both public and private. All students in the selected schools were given the survey in class; their anonymity was assured.
Most dismayed about theft findings?
Michael Josephson, the Institute's Founder and President, said he was most dismayed by the findings about theft. The survey found that 35 percent of boys and 26 percent of girls — 30 percent overall — acknowledged stealing from a store within the past year. One-fifth said they stole something from a friend; 23 percent said they stole something from a parent or other relative.
"What is the social cost of that — not to mention the implication for the next generation of mortgage brokers?" Josephson remarked in an interview. "In a society drenched with cynicism, young people can look at it and say 'Why shouldn't we? Everyone else does it.'"
Other findings from the survey:
-Cheating in school is rampant and getting worse. Sixty-four percent of students cheated on a test in the past year and 38 percent did so two or more times, up from 60 percent and 35 percent in a 2006 survey.
-Thirty-six percent said they used the Internet to plagiarize an assignment, up from 33 percent in 2004.
-Forty-two percent said they sometimes lie to save money — 49 percent of the boys and 36 percent of the girls.
Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that "when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."
Nijmie Dzurinko, executive director of the Philadelphia Student Union, said the findings were not at all reflective of the inner-city students she works with as an advocate for better curriculum and school funding.
"A lot of people like to blame society's problems on young people, without recognizing that young people aren't making the decisions about what's happening in society," said Dzurinko, 32. "They're very easy to scapegoat."
Uptick in sharing homework at one school:
Peter Anderson, principal of Andover High School in Andover, Mass., said he and his colleagues had detected very little cheating on tests or Internet-based plagiarism. He has, however, noticed an uptick in students sharing homework in unauthorized ways.
"This generation is leading incredibly busy lives — involved in athletics, clubs, so many with part-time jobs, and — for seniors — an incredibly demanding and anxiety-producing college search," he offered as an explanation.
__________________________________________________ _______
John_P
______________________________________________
LIE, CHEAT and STEAL: High School Ethics Surveyed
30 Percent of Students Have Stolen From a Store; 64 Percent Have Cheated:
Updated 2:39 P.M. ET, Sun. November 30, 2008
NEW YORK - In the past year, 30 percent of U.S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64 percent have cheated on a test, according to a new, large-scale survey suggesting that Americans are too apathetic about ethical standards.
Educators reacting to the findings questioned any suggestion that today's young people are less honest than previous generations, but several agreed that intensified pressures are prompting many students to cut corners.
"The competition is greater, the pressures on kids have increased dramatically," said Mel Riddle of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. "They have opportunities their predecessors didn't have (to cheat). The temptation is greater."
The Josephson Institute, a Los Angeles-based ethics institute, surveyed 29,760 students at 100 randomly selected high schools nationwide, both public and private. All students in the selected schools were given the survey in class; their anonymity was assured.
Most dismayed about theft findings?
Michael Josephson, the Institute's Founder and President, said he was most dismayed by the findings about theft. The survey found that 35 percent of boys and 26 percent of girls — 30 percent overall — acknowledged stealing from a store within the past year. One-fifth said they stole something from a friend; 23 percent said they stole something from a parent or other relative.
"What is the social cost of that — not to mention the implication for the next generation of mortgage brokers?" Josephson remarked in an interview. "In a society drenched with cynicism, young people can look at it and say 'Why shouldn't we? Everyone else does it.'"
Other findings from the survey:
-Cheating in school is rampant and getting worse. Sixty-four percent of students cheated on a test in the past year and 38 percent did so two or more times, up from 60 percent and 35 percent in a 2006 survey.
-Thirty-six percent said they used the Internet to plagiarize an assignment, up from 33 percent in 2004.
-Forty-two percent said they sometimes lie to save money — 49 percent of the boys and 36 percent of the girls.
Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that "when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."
Nijmie Dzurinko, executive director of the Philadelphia Student Union, said the findings were not at all reflective of the inner-city students she works with as an advocate for better curriculum and school funding.
"A lot of people like to blame society's problems on young people, without recognizing that young people aren't making the decisions about what's happening in society," said Dzurinko, 32. "They're very easy to scapegoat."
Uptick in sharing homework at one school:
Peter Anderson, principal of Andover High School in Andover, Mass., said he and his colleagues had detected very little cheating on tests or Internet-based plagiarism. He has, however, noticed an uptick in students sharing homework in unauthorized ways.
"This generation is leading incredibly busy lives — involved in athletics, clubs, so many with part-time jobs, and — for seniors — an incredibly demanding and anxiety-producing college search," he offered as an explanation.
__________________________________________________ _______
John_P
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With the examples set by our most senior leadership in this country .... it's really a no-brainer why even our kids ethics are in the can 
.
Not all the blame sits on their shoulders, I know ... but it has to start somewhere, right ?
Cheers,
PISTOL
.Not all the blame sits on their shoulders, I know ... but it has to start somewhere, right ?
Cheers,
PISTOL
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From: Salem, Oregon
Obviously, parents have the lions share of responsibility for bringing up ethical children. Other social groups, such as friends, will have a lot to do with character development too. A parent has the responsibility of monitoring not only their children, but the friends of that child. Some kids are just bad influences, and a parent should not let their child associate with them.
Ethics are always swinging up or down in society. In the 70s, no strings attached sex was celebrated. Currently, abortion is largely accepted by society. Ethics will always be in a state of change, for better or worse.
Currently, there is little to no accountability in the financial sector. Take the ratings agencies for example; who is serving a long prison sentence for rating the highest risk loans as the lowest risk, causing the current economic crisis? Which senator was caught hiring a prostitute and possibly using public money in the process but not being charged with any crime?
Ethics are best taught by demonstration, not through words.
Ethics are always swinging up or down in society. In the 70s, no strings attached sex was celebrated. Currently, abortion is largely accepted by society. Ethics will always be in a state of change, for better or worse.
Currently, there is little to no accountability in the financial sector. Take the ratings agencies for example; who is serving a long prison sentence for rating the highest risk loans as the lowest risk, causing the current economic crisis? Which senator was caught hiring a prostitute and possibly using public money in the process but not being charged with any crime?
Ethics are best taught by demonstration, not through words.
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I dont put alot of stock in the survey, if 42% admit to lying (what ever the reason), why trust anythign they said?
Anonymous surveys can be a bit deceiving also. In highschool, we had a survey passed around once along this lines, according to the survey, 90 something percent of the student body had tried drugs, 40 something percent was regular users.
Anonymous surveys can be a bit deceiving also. In highschool, we had a survey passed around once along this lines, according to the survey, 90 something percent of the student body had tried drugs, 40 something percent was regular users.
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Despite such responses, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character, and 77 percent affirmed that "when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know."
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From: texas
It is indeed a differant world for the youngsters than for us old guys. I went thru HS and colledge without cheating, not because of morality per say but simple fact i like doing a job right. That pride in craftmanship be it a class or a project does not exist in same numbers as it used to.
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