News-Record.com

We have been showing Did You Know at our GTCC Quick Jobs Information Sessions every month for the past 18 months. The people we see are not children but they are caught in a very precarious job market that the video highlights. Did You Know shows people entering the job market today will have between 7 and 11 jobs in twenty years and they will change careers 3-5 times in their working lives. You have to let this sink in a bit. Many workers are still in pursuit of jobs that no longer exist and want security that no longer exists. A central message from Did You Know may be that workers (incumbent and future) need to be responsible for gaining and keeping new job specific skills. We may not be preparing our k-12 students to be "life long learners". This ability to continue to learn may be the workers best means to success and security in work. Completing high school is just the start of being ready for the workforce.
Did You Know also points up the dramatic changes in the make up of the workforce. 50 years ago the workforce was made up of about 50% unskilled labor. These were repititous jobs requiring minimum mental agility. Today the workforce is made up of about 50% skilled labor that can read for comprehension, compute and problem solve, critically think about options, have the learning ability to acquire job specific skills and be conscientious about their work.
I think we need to ask ourselves "if the world has changed so much, have we changed sufficiently to keep pace."
Shift continues to happen!!!!

Our public schools should be preparing students for the global economy in which we now live and for meeting the challenges of the 21st century. I am running for Congress to work to give states the tools they need to update their curricula, which will require investments in math, science, technology and the arts to produce innovative thinkers who can help America remain a leader in the world. A world-class public education system is critical to solving poverty in this country. Only a country of educated citizens can keep America competitive in the world.
Early childhood education is critical in order to prepare children to succeed in school. Elementary education must form the solid foundation necessary for future successes. Middle schools must provide continued opportunities for academic growth and exploration of options for the future. High schools must build on this foundation and give students the knowledge and skills necessary for success in post-secondary education, careers, and life. Federal support of education for all students must be expanded, including the Pell grant program and support of research through the National Science Foundation. We must also continue to support teacher development and enrichment and encourage those skilled in math, science and technology to transfer their expertise to the next generation.