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We Need Two School Systems
courtesy of USA Today, February 9, 2010
Education in America could use a big dose of innovation. How about one public school system for
employees, and another for entrepreneurs?
In the summer of 1932, presidential candidate Franklin Delano Roosevelt promised, "I pledge you, I
pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people."
Today, it is time not for a "New Deal," but a "New Mission."
America's schools need to take a page from the businesses that have been created by entrepreneurs over the
past decades. Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all given us the road map,
but the path toward entrepreneurship is often the road less traveled America's schools.
The U.S. unemployment rate is currently 9.7% in what many call a "jobless recovery." So what
should we do? The problem and the solution can be found in America's educational system and its current
mantra: "Go to school and get good grades, so you can get a good high-paying job." In simpler terms
that means, "Go to school to become a good employee." Read
More...
Students Pitch Business Ideas to Experts at Canal
Competition
courtesy of the Marin Independent Journal, December 20, 2009
"We've had a lot of kids who were considering dropping out of our academic program because of
financial pressures at home. We wanted to create a program that would give them the opportunity to make money
while continuing to grow academically."
James Wiley, Youth Education Coordinator for the Canal Alliance Young
Entrepreneurship Project
Carla Martinez adjusted the microphone, smiled at her audience, and began to describe the clothing store of
her dreams. "The mission of 'Classy & Fine' is to sell teenage girls clothes of good quality
at a price that's affordable," said Martinez, a participant in Saturday's "Canal
Business Idol" competition at the Pickleweed Community Center in San Rafael. "We'd be
constantly updating our line, with everything in the store changing every three weeks."
Martinez's store - a boutique drawing from the best of Forever 21, American Eagle and Urban Outfitters -
doesn't exist, of course. But it could, if the business leaders assembled for Saturday's competition
chose to put their expertise and financial incentives behind her idea.
"This is their chance to bring their plan before the business leaders who could help launch
them," said Janice Vela, director of development for the Canal Alliance. Read More...
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Find Jobs of the Future on Entreprenuerial Path, by Shufina
English
courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGate.com, November 22, 2009
We can solve today's problem, but how should we think about the future? Recent articles in The
Chronicle stress that this is the worst job market for college graduates in memory. How can we train our
children for future jobs when we don't know what those jobs will be?
I believe it is time for a sea change in thinking about education. Young children often are naturally
entrepreneurial in their play and actions. Somewhere along the way, as they proceed through their education,
they stop thinking "I can create something" and become focused solely on satisfying the eligibility
requirements for graduation and entrance to higher-level institutions.
We should challenge our educational institutions to develop an educated and entrepreneurial workforce. Public
education should develop a statewide entrepreneurship initiative for our students that incorporates
entrepreneurship training into our academic fabric. This would be based on creative, immersive entrepreneurial
experience and would be appropriate for all students, from K-12 through the University of California
system.
Professors could link their classes with innovative businesses so that students understand the exigencies of a
successful business and can see themselves as contributing participants. Entrepreneurship or business-plan
competitions at all education levels, mentor and alumni networks and improved facilities for prototyping,
testing and other business start-up requirements will develop the skills required for successful
self-employment and business ownership.
We should take to heart the words of William Butler Yeats, "Education in not the filling of a pail, but
the lighting of a fire." Entrepreneurship is the heart of our economy. Let us celebrate and nurture this
spirit.
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