This weekend, the Knoxville News Sentinel carried a column by Don Barkman, president of the Business Center, who opined that schools and parents need to work together to overhaul the way that the youth learn.
He notes that the success of the educational system has a direct impact on the economic/business system.
"Global competitiveness requires a competent work force. Employers are one of the customers of the education system whose product is an educated citizenry/work force. That system should produce citizens who know pertinent facts, apply fundamental skills (4Rs) and creative thinking to new experiences, achieve productive results and establish positive interpersonal relationships."
Barkman suggests that parents and educators of the youngest students need to establish successful learning habits for students to meet that level of competency as young adults.
"To solve a problem requires addressing the root cause. In this case, that involves the processes employed by the suppliers of the raw material (students) — parents and the elementary schools ... The root cause is a flawed educational process. Teachers at all levels find it difficult to draw students’ attention away from entertaining distractions to focus on the nitty-gritty skills of life."
Barkman recommends emphasizing practical skills and experience that students will need as adults rather than more abstract knowledge.
"Strip away the needless memorization of facts that never last into adulthood. Replace them with everyday skill sets like reading a loan application and planning a nutritious meal, and assessment makes more sense to everyone ... On the business side of the education equation, local firms can band together to become “foster firms” to schools to bring more support and real-life connections into the classroom."
Read 'State’s education process needs big changes to make graduates ready for workforce'
The Knoxville News Sentinel this weekend discussed in greater detail the Innovation Valley Inc. partnership that was announced last week. The stories outlined the plans and goals of the new group.
Economic development goals include $3.1 billion in new- and expansion-project capital investment, 30,000 jobs created (direct and indirect), 19,000 existing company jobs added, 2,750 technology related jobs created, and 200 existing-industry headquarter visits.
Education and workforce development goals include raising the area-wide graduation rate to 90 percent, adding 12 new technology curriculum offerings at the high-school level and adding 16 curriculums at the University of Tennessee and other local education institutions.
The USA Today had an interesting article this week detailing the results of a poll which analyzed business leaders' thoughts on today's college graduates.
"Too many policymakers and educational leaders are focused on the tests rather than on what is really important: whether students are learning what they need to know," Roberts Jones, president of Education & Workforce Policy, a consulting firm based in Alexandria, Va. told the USA Today.
Of of the poll's findings: 57 percent said half or fewer of today's college graduates have the knowledge necessary to advance in today's workplace. However. 65 percent say that most college graduates have the skill set to succeed in entry-level positions.
According to the business leaders polled, the skills most lacking in this group are global knowledge, self-direction, and writing.
Yesterday, the Knoxville Chamber released a story detailing a new partnership called Innovation Valley Inc., which was developed to help build regional development. It will connect six local agencies and help maximize their development efforts.
Read the Knoxville Chamber story
From the Knoxville News Sentinel:
"The work of Innovation Valley 'will include the traditional blocking and tackling of economic development - business recruitment and retention. But one of the strongest themes will be work force development,' Thom Mason, president and CEO of UT-Battelle LLC, said. 'Work force development is the real key to economic development.'"
Read the story, "Jobs Now! work to continue in new partnership"
From the Daily Times:
"Matt Murray, a professor of economics at the University of Tennessee and chairman of the Economic Development Board of Blount County, said Innovation Valley Inc. recognizes the workforce development needs East Tennessee will have if it plans to grow technology-oriented businesses in this area.
"'These businesses require a skilled workforce and continuing education,' Murray said."
Read the story, "New regional development program launched".
The University of Tennessee today released a study that says undergraduate and graduate students that major in either health or education were most likely to stay in-state and work after graduation.
Findings from the study indicate that 75 percent of bachelor's degree graduates in health and 74 percent of education degree students remained in Tennessee. This contrasted with an average retention rate of 64 percent across all majors.
Health professionals also earned among the highest post-graduation salaries.
Read the UT article on the findings. download the full report, and learn more about the project.
The US Chamber of Commerce blogger David Chavern had an interesting analysis of a New York Times story on strengthening graduation requirements for high school students.
Sara Rimer of the New York Times writes, "By contrast, many urban and low-income districts, which also serve many immigrants, are experimenting with ways to teach more than the basic skills so that their students can not only get to college, but earn college degrees. Some states have begun to strengthen their graduation requirements.
"'This is transformational change,' said Dan Challener, the president of the Public Education Foundation, a Chattanooga group that is working with the area public schools. 'It’s about the purpose of high school. It’s about reinventing what high schools do.'"
Read the New York Times article here.
Chavern, of the U.S. Chamber, quips, "It is about 20 years too late, but at least someone in the public education environment is acknowledging that there is a connection between public secondary education and our economy – and that there is a core obligation on the part of schools to give students the skills they need to obtain – and keep – meaningful employment."
While our region has enjoyed great successes and accomplishments in the past, we must work harder and smarter to remain competitive and grow as a community. Confronting our region’s workforce challenges will require all of us to work together and have serious conversations about how to prepare a workforce to meet the current & future demands of the Innovation Valley. We need to identify current workforce development efforts and systems, and work to create a strategy that will help maximize effectiveness and minimize overlaps.
Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has challenged us to work together to decide what we have to do now. The Chamber has identified the various areas of workforce development that we need to tackle. On March 24 we will hold a summit, which is an opportunity to work together on these issues and develop a strategy for each one.
In order to organize the summit and form its agenda, we need your input and cooperation. If you did not attend the Jim Clinton event or were not able to complete the form at that time, please take the time to do so now.
Download a PDF of the comment card here.
Please return the completed form to Jennifer Evans.
You can now view Jim Clinton's presentation ("Workforce + Education = Future") from last week in two ways on Knoxville Chamber's site:
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