Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Jan. 19, 2005

Are we living in a characterless society?

"We are reaping the benefits of a characterless society," Bill Parsons, a character education specialist, told a group of teachers and guidance counselors attending a conference on character education earlier this month in Chattanooga. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 lists character education as one of its six goals. As another speaker said it must be seen as equal to academics.

What is a characterless society? David Callahan, author of The Cheating Culture, found some answers in his studies. Seventy-four percent of high school students say they have cheated and 90 percent of college students admit they are willing to lie to increase their chance of getting a good job.

I was not surprised that he found that nearly 50 percent of all résumés contain outright lies. Although it happened about thirty years ago I have always remembered my discomfort when I attended a seminar on résumé writing. I was surrounded by a group of much younger people, all eager to put their best foot forward to get a job.

My discomfort came when the instructor urged us to puff up our résumés. The term lie was never used but it was certainly implied. It has been sad in recent years to read of the downfall of many whom heeded that kind of advice only to be exposed years later as frauds. When the information on their résumés was checked carefully it was found to be untrue.

Callahan also found that once in the workplace shoddy ethics continued. He estimates that executives and workers steal $600 billion from their companies each year.

The undesirable behavior that has received more attention than lying and cheating is bullying. A person who is habitually cruel to smaller or weaker people is a bully. Any age person can be a bully. They are found in the school, in the workplace, in the home. Bullies may use physical force but verbal abuse is also a type of bullying.

Although popular opinion is that bullies have low self-esteem, studies disagree with that theory. Bullies are often admired by their peers and considered "cool" by classmates. Rather than sympathizing with the one being victimized, it is the bully gaining respect thus giving a sense of importance and boosting self-esteem.

Even in homes where good parenting is the norm, a much stronger influence is present. Decades of studies on television and movies has proved conclusively that all the violence shown contributes to aggressive behavior in youngsters. Video games have added another layer of concern.

Youngsters learn social behavior by observation. The danger in a steady diet of violent actions is that many young people mimic those actions. Media-violence becomes a training ground for future bullies.

Because I am an optimist, I believe the tide can be turned from a characterless society to one that exhibits moral and ethical strength. To one that believes integrity is important. Emerson expressed character in these words, "Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary."

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.