The fine bi-annual survey of the Josephson Institute on youth character is now available at www.josephsoninstitute.org. Conducted every other year since 1992, the survey of 30,000 high school students at 100 schools nationwide, grades 9-12, reveals that 64% have cheated on a test at least once, 82% have copied others’ homework, and 42% have lied to save money. Good news, however, the self-esteem emphasis with these trophy kids is working: 77% of them are still satisfied with their character and ethics. Finally, 82% reveal that they have lied to their parents at least once. This last figure is the only piece of the data that the Barometer questions. Having raised four children, the Barometer knows the figure to be 100%. But, the study is still not flawed because 26% of the kids disclosed that they had not answered all of the questions honestly.
That students cheat and do so at high levels is no longer news. The Barometer worries . . . because the educators responding to the survey had their usual, “But they are good kids,” and “They are under so much pressure.” Good people still cheat, and good people still need to accept consequences. Anyone can be ethical when there is no pressure. The test of ethics is how we behave when the pressure is on. The numbers do not improve; indeed they are climbing. We adults, however, are not doing what we could to halt the trends. Amazingly, the survey also shows these young people know ethics are important: 98% answered that honesty is essential in personal relationships. The seeds of virtue are there. We just need to nurture them a bit with emphasis on helping them understand what cheating is, why we worry about, and that there will be sanctions when you cheat. The tallest order is not stopping cheating’s inexorable march. The tallest order is getting the adults to play along.Â