In the past year, 30% of U.S. high school students have stolen from a store and 64% 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.
Self rationalization and external justification are the norm in our fallen state.
[i] Intensified pressures are prompting many students to cut corners. [/i]
Intensified pressures? Quite a remarkable result for the most cosseted generation in American history. Or perhaps not so remarkable, as reality encroaches on a world of play dates, soccer trophies, designer everything, helicopter parents, and hourly praisings. And swollen heads do experience increased pressures.
Despite my curmudgeonly rumblings, I like these kids. They would benefit enormously from some measured toughness, including a no-excuses approach to shoplifting and cheating.
(Full disclosure: I shoplifted three times as a child. My larcenous career ended at the age of 12, when a stern pharmacist nabbed me concealing a bag of cough drops and took no excuses.)