What Texas Should Do About Business
Unemployment trends are reversing and, thankfully, more of our state’s employers are opening their doors to new employees. However, in order to restore jobs lost during the recession and to prepare for those ready to enter the job market, Texas must create more than two million jobs in the next decade, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. That won't be easy, but the good news is that we are starting to make progress. A key factor in Texas achieving this job growth target is having educated employees available to fill positions as they become available.
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Comments (1)
JJ Baskin
Mr. Hammond raises some strong issues in this article.
I think there is a pattern in our nation's education policy of issuing press releases, creating task forces, mandating outcomes, occasional name-calling, and raising expectations on the education sector without businesses, communities, and parents recalibrating for their responsibilities. In order to accomplish the agenda he suggests, I believe that the business community must engage public education and higher education as partners, not consumers.
There are a number of things that businesses and educators can do to establish and build trust toward mutual goals and outcomes. Businesses are needed to assist schools in mentoring and tutoring on all levels. Business leaders need to foster the college-bound culture with their employees. Businesses van lever financial resources to encourage innovation and ensure academic success. This is a two-way street: Business leaders can hold local educational entities accountable and invite the educational entities to hold them accountable for the volunteers, support, and work-place policies (e.g., helping employees be better parents) that foster this success.
The Texas Association of Business would be the last group to suggest that the only cures for education must come from state policy and governmental bureaucracies like TEA and THECB. I would be interested in knowing what strategic initiatives the Texas Association of Business is proposing to its thousands of members that will help shift us from this consumer culture to a culture of authentic partnership, common goals, and shared victories. I think part of this is a matter of encouraging TAB members to be engaged, but encouragement may not be enough. Business--like education, parents, and communities-- must share in a mutual accountability for academic outcomes.