More Lying, Cheating and Stealing…Surprised?

A recent study revealed that today's students lie, cheat and steal at alarming rates. According to the study:

"The attitudes and conduct of some 29,760 high school students across the United States "doesn't bode well for the future when these youngsters become the next generation's politicians and parents, cops and corporate executives, and journalists and generals," the non-profit Josephson Institute said."

The study goes on to state:

"In its 2008 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth, the Los Angeles-based organization said the teenagers' responses to questions about lying, stealing and cheating "reveals entrenched habits of dishonesty for the workforce of the future. Boys were found to lie and steal more than girls. Overall, 30 percent of students admitted to stealing from a store within the past year, a two percent rise from 2006. More than one third of boys (35 percent) said they had stolen goods, compared to 26 percent of girls. An overwhelming majority, 83 percent, of public school and private religious school students admitted to lying to their parents about something significant, compared to 78 percent for those attending independent non-religious schools."

And, is anyone surprised? Students are still children and reflections of the major authoritative influences around them. When morality is removed from an institution that molds and shapes students from the age of six until the age of 18, there should be no great surprise in these findings.

The study goes on to state that "cheating in school continues to be rampant and it's getting worse," the study found. Amongst those surveyed, 64 percent said they had cheated on a test, compared to 60 percent in 2006. And 38 percent said they had done so two or more times."

The study also states:

"Despite no significant gender differences on exam cheating, students from non-religious independent schools had the lowest cheating rate, 47 percent, compared to 63 percent of students attending religious schools. "

There are many factors at play here. These "religious schools"are not Christian schools by any means, but any faith-based school that meets the criteria required to be part of the sample set. Size and enrollment are two of the elements that need to be large in any sample set in order to validate it and, then, take that information and make a statement about the general population; the chances of the average "Christian school" making a dent in the findings are low due to the fact that most "Christian schools" are small in size and in enrollment in comparison to the needed size requirements of a normal sample set.

The study does show all of us a few things. First, it shows us the power of education. Over the last 30 years, an attack on morality began in our schools. Slowly, battle after battle was fought and won, and the value system so prevalent in these United States began to erode away. Now, we awaken to find that the values we now currently hold are no longer in our young people. They no longer care about truth, morality or the greater good; they only care about themselves.

Second, because we know that well over 93% of our youth, and this figure is accurate for Christian families as well, currently attend public schools, something must now change in our public schools, in our private independent schools and even in our Christian schools. We can no longer worry only about curriculum and pedagogy!

And my last point is this: education is culture. The culture we see, currently, was shaped and molded by our schools and our educational philosophy of the past. To change and move forward, it will take all of us.

This is why we do what we do at Westminster Christian Academy. We understand the urgency and the importance of educating children in the Truth and the love of Christ. I love our students because they care deeply about their Savior and each other, but they are children and, at times act like children. It is during those times that we often find some of the greatest opportunities for education and discipleship.

If you come and visit our campus you will find great kids and a school that seeks to employ faculty and staff that are excellent in what they do and possess a great desire to disciple students and lead them to the truth of the Savior. This is Westminster Christian Academy!