Hello, Bob, thanks for writing.  I absolutely agree — children need to see that adults practice what they preach, especially when doing so if difficult and has no apparent payoff other than knowing you’ve done the right thing and can respect the person reflected back in the mirror.
Similarly, newcomers to a profession need to see from the veterans that the profession’s stated goals and principles are meaningful and valuable everyday (and not just for public relations campaigns). 
Far from saying “do as I say, not as I do,” my point is that high-profile violations of an ethics or moral rule are not excuses for the young or newbie to ignore the rule — no more than saying that some people murder or rape or burgle means it’s “okay” for everyone to do so, and that there is no longer a stigma or meaningful consequence for violating the precepts.
Hello, to John P, too, and thanks for your Comment.  If you are the 1998 graduate at your law firm, we’d love to hear more on your perspectives.

Hello, Bob, thanks for writing.  I absolutely agree — children need to see that adults practice what they preach, especially when doing so if difficult and has no apparent payoff other than knowing you’ve done the right thing and can respect the person reflected back in the mirror.
Similarly, newcomers to a profession need to see from the veterans that the profession’s stated goals and principles are meaningful and valuable everyday (and not just for public relations campaigns). 
Far from saying “do as I say, not as I do,” my point is that high-profile violations of an ethics or moral rule are not excuses for the young or newbie to ignore the rule — no more than saying that some people murder or rape or burgle means it’s “okay” for everyone to do so, and that there is no longer a stigma or meaningful consequence for violating the precepts.
Hello, to John P, too, and thanks for your Comment.  If you are the 1998 graduate at your law firm, we’d love to hear more on your perspectives.

A very thought-provoking article. It seems to me that it is important for adults to demonstrate respect for the values they want our children to follow, and to demonstrate respect for our children when our children adhere to those values. Children need a good example, and they need to be rewarded when they follow that good example. Children can see the difference between adult behavior based on core values and adult behavior based on a set of rules that simply reinforces entrenched privilege, e.g. the expectation that children must adhere to basic rules of honesty and right conduct but adults are exempt, or that the law is different for rich and poor. Mind you, I am not suggesting that children should enjoy all the privileges of adults, only that when it comes to lying, cheating, and stealing, children have to see the adults refrain even when it is to their advantage not to.

A very thought-provoking article. It seems to me that it is important for adults to demonstrate respect for the values they want our children to follow, and to demonstrate respect for our children when our children adhere to those values. Children need a good example, and they need to be rewarded when they follow that good example. Children can see the difference between adult behavior based on core values and adult behavior based on a set of rules that simply reinforces entrenched privilege, e.g. the expectation that children must adhere to basic rules of honesty and right conduct but adults are exempt, or that the law is different for rich and poor. Mind you, I am not suggesting that children should enjoy all the privileges of adults, only that when it comes to lying, cheating, and stealing, children have to see the adults refrain even when it is to their advantage not to.

Very interesting and worrisome. Thanks.

Very interesting and worrisome. Thanks.