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New survey finds that most American teens admit ethical lapses but still think they're good
By David Crary
Associated Press
Published on Monday, Dec 01, 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 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.
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 asked. ''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.''
Sharing homework
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.
Riddle, who for four decades was a high school teacher and principal in northern Virginia, agreed that more pressure could lead to more cheating, yet spoke in defense of today's students.
''I would take these students over other generations,'' he said. ''I found them to be more responsive, more rewarding to work with, more appreciative of support that adults give them.
''We have to create situations where it's easy for kids to do the right things. We need to create classrooms where learning takes on more importance than having the right answer.''
On Long Island, an alliance of school superintendents and college presidents recently embarked on a campaign to draw attention to academic integrity problems and to crack down on plagiarism and cheating.
Roberta Gerold, superintendent of the Middle Country School District and a leader of the campaign, said parents and school officials need to be more diligent — for example, emphasizing to students the distinctions between original and borrowed work.
''You can reinforce the character trait of integrity,'' she said. ''We overload kids these days, and they look for ways to survive.''
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.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 03:50 AM, 12/01/2008
No honor.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:16 AM, 12/01/2008
Not surprisin', considerin' they are the product of liberal society.
When the liberal fruitcups ended disipline in our schools, they set the stage for what we have today.
Posted 08:59 AM, 12/01/2008
All kids as well as adults lie, cheat and steal.
Posted 09:26 AM, 12/01/2008
I agree Glenda. I also agree with you Beta that liberals have spoiled our chilren but i don't agree about school personnel spanking our children (if that is what you meant) Kids should be sent home and diciplined by parents or guardians if they are that bad in school, not school personnel, sorry, but i have seen too many teachers and principals abuse their authority, and it just isn't a good idea. Now, if we are talking taking away priveledges and giving detentions at school, that is fine, on top of a kid getting in trouble at home also, that, in my opinion, is good reinforced dicipline.
Posted 10:18 AM, 12/01/2008
In other words. We are all sinners, who will have to account for our sins.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:22 AM, 12/01/2008
Who lied about WMD in Iraq? A liberal? If it's OK for the president to do it . . .
Children are mostly a product of their parents--parents who are too lazy to provide discipline, or want to see themselves as "cool" or want their kids to think of them as a friend. Parents who gossip, lie, cheat & steal.
Posted 10:27 AM, 12/01/2008
Ray is still upset about losing the '04 election...get over it Ray, Beta is right, liberal morals and ideals promote this sort of behavior, it's a FACT.
Posted 10:54 AM, 12/01/2008
Glenda, not all adults lie cheat and steal. Everyone is guilty of making poor choices at times but we hopefully grow out of that inmature way of thinking and become honest, caring productive citizens.
Posted 10:56 AM, 12/01/2008
Ray hit the nail on the head. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Perhaps you need to check yourself out Glenda, if you lie cheat and steal like you say all adults do then your children are destined to act like that.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:01 AM, 12/01/2008
With the Akron Public schools resting near the bottom in several categories of the state testing for our area, it amazes me to think they may be cheating to achieve these scores. The fact we have less children attending classes yearly and yet we are constantly asked for tax increases with no results. We need "Help" in Akron.
RichRodforOH2010.com, .
Posted 12:46 PM, 12/01/2008
Ray,
I'm a Democrat and I agree that liberal movements have weakened the younger generation in many ways. For instance, why would kids work hard when the separation between high performance and mediocrity is shrinking due to "equality" standards (not racial equality, but performance-recognition equality).
Posted 04:13 PM, 12/01/2008
The problem doesn't come from the school administrators, the problem comes from the parents. If you have parents that are not involved in their childern's lives and upbringing they are not going to learn morals, values, discipline, etc. Plain and simple, the responisbility lies with the parents.
akron, oh
Posted 11:59 AM, 12/02/2008
Thank you Racheal, well said. No amount of money will make a dent in the Akron schools until parents start parenting. It is a simple and time proven strategy for success in school and beyond.
