Ethics, simply defined, is
the difference between right and wrong. While this area is sometimes not clear,
ethics is a vital portion of business classes. Large quantities of time are
spent talking about past scandals and the norms and values of ethics, so that
history does not repeat itself. Nowadays, students are learning more about how
to react in a potentially unethical situation. Ethics
is about the quality of lives, service, and ultimately, the bottom line.
Treating employees, customers, vendors, the community, and the public in an
ethical, fair, and open way is the only way a company will stay in business.
So far this year, I have learned about ethics in two classes - accounting and SOM 301. I think that more classes should be focusing on business ethics, especially for business students. The choice between right and wrong may not always be black or white, there may be some grey area. In high schools, you hear about students getting expelled or suspended from school due to cheating. But are teachers teaching kids how not to cheat? Each school has a set of ethics, which aren't rules, but guidelines as to how you should act. It seems reasonable that this set of guidelines shouldn't change from school to school, so why are the punishments different depending on what you do? In one school, you could cheat on a homework and get a zero for that, but in another school, you could get suspended. The National Association for Social Workers in Massachussets says that schools should practice "preventative ethics." This way, students learn what to do, before they learn what NOT to do.
Personally, I was taught by my parents what was wrong and what was right - not to copy off of someone else, always do everything myself, and to always take pride in my work. School just reinforced all the values my parents had instilled in me as a child. Who taught you?
I think it is also prudent to note distinction between ethics - the rules, and morals - your values. You can make an action ethically wrong, but people's own morals will influence their decision making. I'm glad your parents raised you right and influenced the formation of your good morals. However, many do not have the positive reinforcement of good morals that you had growing up, and it leads to a lot of trouble because they have to get their morals straightened out later in life to adhere to the ethical principles of school, life, and the workplace.
ReplyDeleteMany people, sadly, do not know what is right and wrong. I think thats why our society faces the many dilemmas that have now. School should be a place where this is taught as well as at home, whether it is family or friends. They have only themselves to suffer for it later on in life in the workforce and one day when they have a family of their own. That's why it is so important to learn the fundamentals at a young age.
ReplyDeleteI think people know it is wrong to cheat or violate the rules but they just do it anyway because it may not harm them and affect them. First time is hard but once you keep doing it, it is nothing but a habbit. I do not remember my school taught me about right and wrong. I have just heard that students will be expelled and punished that is all. Ethics in education is important but also students' right minds are needed in school.
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