Leading Charlottesville

I had the pleasure of speaking to members of the 2007 Leadership Charlottesville Class at PVCC yesterday on a forum discussing business and education partnerships. Having gone through the program last year, it was a pleasure to be invited and discuss issues that relate to business and education collaboration. (Jann Ross and the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce are to be commended for their work in the support of this program).

Several issues were raised pertaining to the focus on education partnering with local businesses. One particular question centered on whether partnering with businesses, while positive in concept, was realistic and beneficial for adolescents who may not need to be focusing so much on a career at such a young age.

This is a valid point. Secondary education, including specialty centers like CATEC, must be realistic in what they are "providing" to the "real world" upon students' completion and graduation of programs. A 17 or 18 year old student should not be expected to be put in a managerial situation or have responsibilities that are beyond the maturity and experiences necessary for particular occupations. However, the business/education connection is critical in providing students with the understanding of opportunities that may present themselves in the future that have a direct correlation to their choice of post-secondary training or career choice upon leaving high school.

Most students are unaware of these careers and jobs that are beyond the traditional definition of what they may see in their own family or with neighbors. "You don't know what you don't know" and students need to have real exposure to what opportunities present themselves WHILE they are going through the secondary process. The opportunity for a student to experience (touch it, feel it, smell it) is critical to their development in making choices on their own behalf.

Exposure to businesses, industries, and careers is an important component of our secondary instruction but doesn't take the place of preparing our students with the necessary critical thinking and problem solving skills that are occurring everyday in our local schools. It's a complementary component that only enriches the education our students are receiving.