KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Kids Who Lie, Cheat and Steal

If you're a parent, you've probably realized that it has become more and more common for kids to lie, cheat and steal.  Studies show that kids are behaving in inappropriate ways in record numbers.  The numbers are discouraging.  According to the Josephson Institute of Ethics, 89-percent of students believe that being a good person is more important than being wealthy, but 21-percent admit that they have stolen something from a parent or relative.  Eighteen percent say they've stolen from a friend.  When it comes to lying, 92-percent of students believe their parents want them to do the right thing, but more than 8 our of 10 say they've lied to their parents about something significant.  Kids say cheating in school is everywhere.  The majority of students say they've cheated on a test during the past year and 34-percent say they've cheated more than twice.  One in three students say they've used the internet to plagiarize an assignment.  Experts say parents should counteract unethical behavior by making school and family standards of right and wrong higher than society's.