Ethics is certainly an important aspect to be considered when discussing leadership skills.  During this past week I have had several situations that surprised me because I found student records from previous schools which did not show that ethics were followed.  How could a student’s report cards show only “A” and “B” grades when the normed test and academic growth charts showed the student performing at the lowest percentiles for students of the same grade and age?  In my opinion, the parents were lied to and misled about the education their child received.

    I just received our Junior Scholastic 2021-2022 World and United States Atlas and Almanac in the mail.  Under the heading “8th graders proficient or better in math (2019) for all 50 states, the range of averages was: 21% in Alabama and New Mexico, to  47% in Massachusetts.  There were only five states with scores in the 40s.  The rest were in the 20s and 30s.   

    To me, these statistics scream for a search of the ethics being practiced in our educational systems.  New York spent the highest amount of dollars per student in public school funding with $25,139.  New Jersey was in second place with $20, 512.  (The student math proficiency for these two states listed 44% for New Jersey, and 34% for New York.)

    I have often questioned what has been happening in our nation’s schools.  I have served on the state textbook committee one time during my career.  I was overwhelmed at the incentives, the free gratuities, and the extraordinary luxury treatment given to committee members by the textbook representatives.  Yet, even with all the flattery, the states seem to have an unspoken pledge: as California and Texas choose textbooks, so go the rest of the states.  It was also quite evident that the different textbooks were almost matched copies in content and presentation.  Add to this, that I personally watched the dumbing down of content, especially in math at least three to four times during my public school career.  To me, this is unethical conduct on the part of our educational system.

    Many of our students have the mistaken idea that technology will do all the work for them.  It is a reminder of the popular song which rang out loudly, “I don’t need no education…”  How will these students function when the electrical sources are down?  How can messaging take place if their phone or watch or tablet is missing, and they are stranded somewhere looking for help?  My students just laugh and with a knowing toss of their heads reply, “Ha!  That’ll never happen!   It won’t last for very long!”

    This is just one aspect of ethics which I think about a lot.  It would take volumes to speak about the ethics of truthfulness in the execution of homework and compositions.  The virtual school time we spent during the quarantine showed us just how much of an ethical problem we have in our society.  It was shocking enough that we hope to never have to experience it again!

    Previously, I wrote a blog on this site which included a written list which was compiled by the Houston police department of ways to make sure your child turns out to be a juvenile delinquent.  It based the suggestions on research of commonalities among prisoners.  If you are interested, you might run a search for it.  Meanwhile, I do what I can to teach my students the importance of ethics as I make every effort to model it myself.  Then, I pray a lot for our students, our school, our country, and our world!  If you find your feelings on this subject are similar to mine, then join me in lifting those prayers! 

-        Kay