The Ethics of Corporations and Kids

Ethics Resource Center 2004
Katie Sutliff

Reading the news is enough to make people believe corporations are evil. They look at the reported corporate scandals of the last few years and start to believe that all people who work in business are morally defunct and have sold their souls for the almighty dollar.

But it's not true. The majority of companies are ethical. They are staffed by decent individuals working hard for an honest day's wage. They produce quality goods at a reasonable price, contribute to the community, and help society by employing people. They do the everyday good that doesn't sell newspapers or make headlines. So we don't hear their stories.

The same is true for teenagers. We read about gangs in the cities and their growth into the suburbs. We watch special reports about school shootings and read editorials about the technological genius of today's cheater. It's all pretty shocking and it makes for good news.

But the REAL good news is that there are great kids out there. Lots of them.

Ask any high school teacher. They spend all day with teens and they do it by choice. They do it because there are some extraordinary students that teach the adults around them how to be better people. They stay in teaching for the countless other students who want to do what's right but need help knowing what that is and finding the strength to do it regardless of costs. Despite the long hours of grading and planning and extracurriculars, teachers stay year after year because of two things: inspiration and hope. They are inspired by the extraordinary ethical leaders in their classrooms. And they hope that the rest will take the ethical right road once they're able to follow in the footsteps of others rather than being asked to pave new ground.

Like the organizations we work in, there are ethical leaders in every high school. And there are lots of others who may not have the strength to be ethical leaders, but are grateful they exist. Only a small handful of individuals have the strength of character to stick their necks out when no one else will. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. did right when few others had the courage; they were successful because their courage inspired others and their moments of heroism transformed into movements.

Recently, I had the privilege of spending a week with 23 extraordinary, young people who are ready to transform the heroism of a moment into a movement that will change the world. Over the course of the week-long Student Fellows Program, these amazing young people shared their insights and enthusiasm. They each gave up a week of summer vacation to learn about themselves as leaders, to talk about ethics, to join together as student ethics officers, and to plan how to bring their message to their school communities.

They aren't merely the ethical leaders of tomorrow. They are the ethical leaders of today. And they are united in a common mission: to do what's right and to help others do so well. They are the ethics officers, engineers, teachers, parents, CEO's, attorneys, and doctors of tomorrow. But, just as importantly, they are the student ethics officers of today. As they grow strong, sustainable ethics offices in their schools, they will give strength to the others in their school communities and will create a foundation that will last long past graduation. These kids are going to change the world one community, one school, one student at a time. And we adults, thankfully, are along for the ride.

Katie Sutliff is the ERC's Character Development Manager and creator of the Student Fellows Program that premiered in July 2004. Before joining the ERC, Ms. Sutliff spent four years teaching high school.