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By Shawndeeia Drinkard and Katie Abadie/Staff Writers
Although Bishop Amat students consider themselves ethical people, the Amat journalism class found different results during a survey taken in early-December.
The survey asked Amat students how they felt about morals and ethics.
The survey found that students contradicted themselves by believing that they knew correct ethics, but rarely followed those rules.
Results were similar to a study issued to high schools along the East Coast by The Josephson Institute. The survey was given to determine why students believe that even if they lie, cheat, and steal, they still believe themselves to be honest.
Here are some findings from the survey conducted at Amat:
- 86 percent agreed that it is important to be a person with good character.
- 82 percent agree that in business and the workplace trust and honesty are essential.
- 75 percent agree that being a good person is more important than being rich.
But this is where the results start contradicting the previous statements.
According to the survey 45 percent disagree that successful students do what they have to do to win, even if others consider it cheating. 16 percent remained undecided.
In addition, 59 percent disagree that students, who are willing to lie, cheat, or break the rules, are more likely to succeed than students who do not.
Students recognize the ideal characteristics of a “successful student” but the results show that the students fail to live them out:
- 64 percent agree that in the past year they have lied to my parents about something significant.
- 46 percent agree that in the past year they have lied to a teacher about something significant.
- 30 percent in the past year have plagiarized with 14 percent were unclear about what plagiarism actually is.
- 57 percent in the past year have cheated on a test.
Mr. Victor Arenas, who teaches in the religion department and is in charge of Christian Service said the results aren’t a shock.
“It’s no surprise especially, when you live in a society that says to get ahead you have to be selfish,” Mr. Arenas said.
Students also admitted to stealing from their family members, friends, and stores.
The survey found 24 percent of students have stolen from a parent, relative, or friend in the past year. And 29 percent of students agree that in the past year they have stolen from a store.
But students are still under the impression that they are virtually flawless. With their materialistic accomplishments, students are led to believe that they should do whatever possible to graduate, pass classes, get into college, and save time.
But who is responsible to correct these mentalities?
“I prefer to learn ethics through experience rather than only living out what my teachers tell me,” David Lopez a senior said.
But Lopez is in the minority about the responsibility of teachers.
The survey found that 58 percent of students agree that teachers have the responsibility to teach students ethics in the classroom. However, 24 percent disagreed and either said students should take personal responsibility or believe that it is the parents’ job to teach ethics.
However, some teachers like Mr. Arenas believe that when in the classroom, teachers should take some initiative to teach the students ethics.
“Teachers automatically assume students know how to interact and how to be polite in the classroom,” Mr. Arenas said.
See Also: Both students and teachers responsible to prevent cheating
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