Survey results stun educators
12/12/2005 17:15
Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news
Nearly half of
local youngsters agree with the proposition that being honest doesn't pay,
according to a recent survey that has stunned educators and researchers.
The
survey, cited by today's Lao Dong Daily, was conducted by the Institute of Youth
and Juvenile Studies, an affiliate of the Shanghai Academy of Social
Sciences.
Of the respondents, 46.1 percent agree that being honest puts
someone at a disadvantage, while 16 percent said they would pocket the money if
they found 1,000 yuan on the street.
Nearly 40 percent refuse to give their
seats to needy people when riding on buses and 30 percent say they jaywalk.
Over 10 percent don't see the harm in making loud noises in public places,
scrawling graffiti, or riding buses and metros without buying tickets.
The
results show a collapse in the morality of young people, a deviation from
traditional Chinese virtues such as returning money and possessions back to
their rightful owners and helping the needy, Professor Yang Xiong, president of
the youth studies institute, pointed out.
"All these results point to a low
level of morality among local young people," he said.
"Educators must address
the youngsters' psychological and personality development as well as help them
pursue material objects. We should avoid utilitarianism and pragmatism, which go
against the traditional Chinese virtues," he added.
Professor Yu Hai, of
Fudan University's Sociology Department, echoed Yang's view.
He said a social
environment should be created which cultivates public-spiritedness among
children. "At least they should feel ashamed and guilt-ridden when refusing to
offer a bus seat to a needy person," he added.
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