This is in response to this mornings discussion of education.  Just yesterday another talk news show was interviewing an executive in California about why a bided job went to a Chinese company instead of American - the answer... “We needed good welders and they are in short supply in America”.  

Academic education is very important, but ALL children will not go on to college and be college graduates.  We need to focus more on life skills for those students that have a desire to “work with their hands” while in high school.  Reading, writing and math are very important to succeed, but we need to be teaching vocational skills for those, as we did in the 60's, 70’s and 80's.   America needs mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, welders, office assistants, cooks, electricians, farmers,  etc...  Those skills many of us learned in high school have kept us in the American/Alabamian workforce.   Don't get me wrong, college education is important.  However, America needs to get back to educating those that will not go on to college for whatever reason to be productive in an American workforce and bring jobs back to America!    There is no reason why we cannot educate today’s young people to be a productive part of America and help build a better America.

 Wake up AMERICA...   we need welders, plumbers, carpenters, cooks, mechanics, electricians and farmers.  Let's put VOCATIONAL EDUCATION back in our schools and teach life-skills that will make America better and keep an American workforce in our U.S.A.

Amen!  I teach Family and Consumer Sciences (home ec.) and our programs are being cut every year.  We teach skills for life.  Many children get none of these skills at home.  Our courses are needed by every single child as they will be using them every day of their lives.

What can be taught in school to sway a Rx dependent population away from special interest groups that ultimately affect the central money flow in our nation?

Business leaders should become more involve with curriculum design and creation of job readiness programs. Since employers complain about not having access to skilled workers, they have some responsibility to contribute to education reform.

This is a very hot topic due to the state of our economy but there should be caution.

Businesses already contributes to schools and it isn't always a postive influence. Providing funding with advertising or rights of sale contracts within the school campus. Developing the next generation of mindless consumers is certanily not a goal I have as an educator. I have always considered the school system as a form of creating critical thinking citizens for this country and I feel that this aspect is slightly overlooked with this major push for businesses to get involved. Yes times are bad but don't be hasty.

The interst of businesses and education do not go hand in hand as readily as much of this discussion makes it seem. One is out for profit while and the other, at least I can say this for myself, is out to help the students learn and become educated decision makers for this country.

Should schools help students be prepared for a career, of course! But it should always be with a cautionary eye towards a businesses true intentions.

517 businessmen from high level of 28 European countries participated in the survey of "Closing the gap between business and education", by Freshminds and sponsored by Citi Foundation. This marks a new research study provides a framework for comparison and evaluation of the role of business in society and the impact of volunteerism and corporate citizenship in the development of skills in young people. In Europe 2020, European leaders have for the skills and human capital as a key priority for action and investment. The findings include:

Businesses should play an active role in education: Respondents believe that their organizations have an important role to play in the development of society and young people to volunteer and participate in corporate citizenship activities. Having a positive social impact, as an organization is the main reason for this.

European companies are very positive about the impact of volunteerism. Respondents said that volunteering has a similarly high value for 'the development of skills in future generations, "" society in general, organizations and employees who answered. Volunteering is considered the development of a wide range of positive attributes among employees, including enthusiasm, teamwork and sense of higher working range.

Volunteering helps young people better prepared to enter the workplace. 87% of respondents said that business participation in the development of young people was "very important".

There is a good correlation between the skills developed by JA-YE and skills that employers feel less developed educational systems. Most companies (71% believe that the development of business and financial capabilities is particularly poor in his country. The soft skills needed to access employment (such as confidence, presentation skills, networking, motivation, unity and teamwork) is considered especially necessary. The JA-YE programs are felt to address these deficiencies and particular skills, with 81% of respondents stating that "make a reasonable difference" or "make a big difference in equipping young people for the future.

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