School-to-Career Blog 070907
The views expressed here are Chris' and are not necessarily the same as the Wake County Public School System.
Schools not preparing students to be good employees. The Register-Guard, July 9, 2007.
Highlights from the article
Our students must be ready to learn new skills and to understand what American employers expect in the work place.
Our education system, as it exists today, is failing to provide about one-quarter of students with the tools they need. As a result, the education system is creating a permanent underclass - people who are not prepared to work and earn a living for their families.
Almost everyone knows that many students won't go to college, either a community college or four-year program. We must find a way to provide various tracks within our schools, so all children -- even if they don't continue education beyond high school -- are prepared to succeed.
We must do this because we value and cherish our young people. They deserve to be ready to work in an ever-changing world.
In education and in life, one size doesn't fit all. We must have government, education, business institutions and labor unions that are willing and able to engage in a bold and honest evaluation of our strengths and weaknesses.
Chris' thoughts -
China and India are educating their youth to be innovative thinkers to compete head on with the Americans. Before long all the good jobs will be in the hands of the Chinese and Indians, and we Americans will cry out; "That's not fair!"
We still think that sending ALL kids to college is the solution to prepare our future workforce. We have to come to grips with the fact that less than 20% of all jobs require a four-year degree. Many of these jobs that require less than a four-year degree pay better then those that require a four-year degree. Some even have six-figure salaries. Of course money is not what seems to drive our society, itıs the bragging rights to be able to claim, "My son is a college graduate!"
The author mentioned bringing the community together to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses. We're doing that with our School-to-Career Council. We have to be teaching what the employers want the students to know. After all, itıs the employers who will be hiring our graduates.
The ultimate goal should be a rewarding career, not a college degree!
Chris writes for the following Blogs:
- Wake County School-to-Career Blog
- Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) New and Related Services Division, School-to-Work/Careers Section (ACTE blog)
- Association for Career and Technical Education's (ACTE) New and Related Services Division, School-to-Work/Careers Section (ACTE blog) (alternate view)
- Wake County Public School System's Morning Announcements (WCPSS blog)
Wake County Public School System programs are staffed and offered without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, political affiliation, or disability.