Students lie, cheat, steal, but say they're good

[Quicksilver]

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.

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.

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.'"


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081130/...I.7Oo1sfXLLJ94