How should businesses contribute to improving the education system?

 In this economy, much is already expected of businesses.  Children benefit by living in stable homes without too much financial stress.  One thing businesses can do is motivate students by offering work exposure by granting young adolescents two week internships.  For the students with the least expectation of gainful employment, where their expectations for and of themselves have been negatively impacted by poverty and access, early exposure to what the working world is like could reap huge rewards.  Students need to connect education with something that feels relevant.  Our educational calendar was initially established because children were needed in the summers for harvest.  Young adolescents are still permitted to legally work on a farm.  In the 21st Century, farming jobs are going to scarce in America.  We need to apply the same logic to THEIR needs and encourage small and large businesses and individuals to sponsor a 7th or 8th grader for short term employment.  Radical? Maybe...but they have been doing it at The Mead School in Stamford, CT for 40 years with tremendous results as reported by students, employers, and parents!

In a world where everyone believes that college is the answer to all our woes, let me point to the technical colleges that produce individuals ready for a workforce in 2 years.  For many reasons, not all students are equipped to be successful in a university setting. However, a technical degree or certificate can open many jobs in fields earning excellent money. This is where businesses come into play.  By pushing local schools to expand their CTE departments and/or contributing supplies and part-time work for the students of these programs, many of the children that would normally not pursue an education after high school walk away with a high school diploma and a technical certificate. 

Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs has an excellent video out on Youtube that addresses the need for more individuals to get into technical careers. As  CTE teacher, I've been promoting that for years. Lately I have been seeing more connections between the businesses that need a technically trained labor pool and the education system. Currently any CTE program the receives Federal Perkins funding is required to create a Program Of Studies (POS) that articulates high school CTE programs with community college programs. This has come about because the federal government has recognized that today's work force requires some sort of post secondary training or education. Community colleges are best set for that training. Businesses have, in the past and more now, realized that they need to work with community colleges in helping develop a labor pool from which they can draw. High schools are now becoming a part of that picture.

This is not a new idea. It's time has just come back around again. But one thing has to change to make this successful and that is the mindset that some administrators and parents have about technical education. It is not a dirty word nor something for loosers that can't make it in academics. This is real worl/real career training. Many of these technical jobs that require a two year degree pay better than most jobs requiring a four year degree. I believe this is also our answer to stepping out of this recession. The connection between business and education is a win/win situation for all.

There is an urgent need to produce school leaders with the capacity to tackle the challenges of either repairing broken systems or creating ones that work. We need educational leaders who are social entrepreneurs and who possess the courage and skills to change school cultures.

Do you think business concepts in education should extend to training school leaders?  Rather than exposing aspiring leaders to a traditional program that focuses primarily on pedagogy, theory, & educational concepts, should leadership training programs partner with Colleges of Business?  

What do you all think about prinicpals and their leadership/teaching teams acting as “edupreneurs” that are equipped with executive-type skills and strategies for the educational success of all students?  

I strongly agree with all of the above thoughts and i would like to add one more component to this puzzle.

Since we are talking about getting businesses involved with schools, I think there is an opportunity out there for businesses to reach out to schools and get their foot in the door and give today's students a real world experience, and for offering their services maybe they should receive some incentives for taking the initiative to get students invovled with their companies earlier.

I believe getting students involved in a possible future career earlier, would work much like the student athlete boom that has occured in this country over the last 20 years. Kids are getting into organized athletics at younger and younger ages, why not do the same for their career preparation? I know this can be a risky step for businesses, and kids, but think about the long term rewards for developing an employee from a young age! Michael Jordan wasn't automatically good at basketball, his work ethic is well documented and glorified, and students wanted to be "Like Mike."

What if we start glorifying Entrepreneurs and Business People in the same way? Have them share their stories that include both failures and successes and allow students to see how they too can achieve the same success.

I think this would also help students realize that obtaining success is not an instant reward that happens because you get a degree, it's the result of the complete body of work you put together over a period of time.

So in conclusion, what will your child's Six Championships look like?

Hello!  My name is Todney Harris.  I am very interested in this line of discussion due to the fact that I have recently written a book that speaks directly to these issues.  The book will be available October 1 2011. 

I just want to say that education and capitalism are intertwined!  Both institutions exits collectively.  It is impossible to reform one institution without reforming the other.  Data suggests that our current model is in desperate need of reforming.  The younger children should be starting school much earlier and the older students should be starting their day a lot later.  The main reason why you cannot disrupt or amend school hours is due to the athletic programs that are held after school.

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Join my blog and lets hammer out these issues!  I want to recruit as many people as possible and form a new political action committee!  I am working on that website as we speak!

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 Great conversations...

Joining education and business started with apprenticeship probably back to Roman times.  Real world role models, experiences, and opportunities to provide a purpose for school is essential in motivating students to learn and achieve.  We have to give them something to dream about...become passionate about.  

When I was in middle school, my teachers set up a program for me to tutor elementary school kids.  Now I am in my 33rd year of teaching.  

Expanding opportunities for students to explore a variety of world experiences/jobs or to apprentice themselves in an area they love brings purpose to a young person's life.  Who knows where it can lead.

Some of the reasons students are not prepared for business have to do with facing real life consequences. In school there are no consequences for being tardy, for being absent, or for not doing the work; in business the consequence would be a lost job.

In the state where I work, students with excessive absences are now referred to as students in need of intervention. A letter home in this case is all that happens. Teachers cannot be expected to do more than encourage students to be present. Parents must set the example that school attendance is critical to future success.

Working for Microsoft and having worked in a HIgh School for 3 years (as a MSFT employee) one thing that I would suggest is making it easier for business to get involved with schools to provide these opportunities. I see and hear about providing internships and opportunities, but I bore witness to a mound of red tape that stood in the way of just getting students to the local office. Understandably the need for safety is evident, but putting that aside, how can we overcome the difficulites of the 'red tape' so that  business can offer things like onsite training, internships etc.

Last week, I commented on the Federal Government's role in determining curriculum for American schools, and criteria for teacher credentials.  It's a known fact that parental involvement and community involvement in schools is necessary for success.  In Louisiana, we had partnerships with businesses and schools.  Career support was given for internships for secondary school students, and economic support was given for projects in primary schools.  Our ultimate aim as educators is to prepare students for the world of work, yet there is a disconnect when too much emphasis is placed on tests.  The entire structure of our education system needs to be redeveloped to provide curriculum that will prepare students for both technical job skills, and college-bound students.  ALL students should not be preparing for college, which is how most systems are structured. America provides education for ALL of its children, unlike many other nations, which allow only the top-performing students to go on to a college track.  High school teachers could specialize and refine students for jobs if the track towards career would start when students were in grade 6, rather than grade 10.  Businesses could provide internships in all areas of work, if this were a nationwide aim.