Study: Cheating common
in high school

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Is lying, cheating and stealing, ok? A large national survey of high school students indicates many may think so.

24-Hour News 8 took the study to a local school where it saddened, but didn't surprise students or staff.

The mission of the private International School of Indiana is to not only challenge students academically, but to develop responsible citizens.

The school not only warns students that plagiarizing will get them in big trouble, but more than that, they say they've been taught why it's wrong to steal someone else's words. Well placed school posters are constant reminders.

"I'm pretty religious so like my morals are pretty strict," said Ally Wise a senior.

Wise is not surprised however, that many students apparently do not share her values.

A Los Angeles based ethics institute anonymously surveyed nearly 30,000 high school kids nationwide and got some alarming responses about behavior within the past year.

Thirty percent admitted stealing from a store, 64% cheated on a test, 36% plagiarized, 42% lied to save money, and 93% said they were satisfied with their personal ethics.

Wise said, "I can't really say that I'm shocked about it because I do know a lot of people who speak casually about things like that because it's the norm. I think that has a lot to do with it."

"I'm not very surprised," said Professor Dick McGowan, Butler University.

Professor McGowan teaches business ethics at Butler. He said students are learning the wrong message from role models such as greedy CEO's and immoral politicians who appear successful.

"Studies show, both on an individual basis and also on a corporate level that corporations and individuals who do the right thing over the course of time are typically, wildly successful. In other words, the most self interested thing a person can do is be ethical," said Professor McGowan.

McGowan said parents often think schools are responsible for teaching ethics, and schools say it's the job of parents.

He said parents and teachers should support each other's efforts of raising young people with strong values and ethics.

The good news! He said there are signs that the tide is turning as more students commit to community service and humanitarian projects.