Nashville's Chamber of Commerce gave us a peek earlier this week via an story in the CityPaper of its agenda for public schools .
It wants to create a workforce of people to employ in local businesses and industry. It particularly supports career academies where businesses partner with the schools to make sure students learn the skills local employers will need. Career academies are a part of that plan.
The CityPaper says:
Students at career academies will be able to choose a job-related focus — options span across music, construction, business analysis, mass communications, heath care and more — and study their academic materials in the context of applications to their chosen professions.
Chamber officials say that smaller learning communities and career academies have potential to improve both public education and the local economy, and merit support from the business community.
The objective makes sense for an organization that says its goal is "supporting the growth and prosperity of Chamber-member businesses," according to its web site. In fact, it makes sense to the community. Employers need workers and workers need jobs.
What doesn't make sense is how the Chamber is going about its objectives; Involving itself in school board politics and fighting for a redistricting effort that diminishes the quality of education are divisive and counterproductive actions.
The Chamber's goals are understandable, reasonable and should be considered by the school board. However, the board must realize that the Chamber's goals are not the same as the community's needs. Public schools do not exist simply to provide workers for local business and industry.
Schools exist to provide people the skills they need to have successful lives -- however individuals may define that for themselves. Our jobs do not necessarily define who we are and nowhere is that more evident than in Nashville.
Each year hundreds, if not thousands of people come here hoping to become the next great country music star. Odds are they won't make it and while they wait for a lucky break, they'll be waiting tables, driving cabs and doing other jobs that have nothing to do with who they are.
Business needs a workforce and it is prudent to teach those skills, but an education must serve all students, whatever their goals. If the Chamber wants a stronger Nashville, it must work to make sure every student in Nashville's schools gets a good education, not just the ones most likely to work in its member's businesses.
-- Jim Grinstead
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