| There can be no doubt that the 3 R's of | | | | leadership was one of the essential skills lacking in |
| education have withstood the test of time quite | | | | entry-level workers. In fact, this same report |
| nicely. In fact it remains fair to say that even as | | | | noted that employers found strong work ethic, |
| we enter the year 2010, a person cannot hope to | | | | problem solving, creativity along with organizational |
| go far in today's world if he or she does not have | | | | and interpersonal skills to be much more |
| a basic competency in reading, writing and math. | | | | important than reading, writing, math or specific |
| Our educational system has likewise come a long | | | | job skills. A similar study by Michigan State |
| way in developing curricula that expands on the | | | | University found that the top 5 skills requested by |
| foundation established by the 3 R's. Today, the | | | | employers for entry-level hires were leadership, |
| breath and depth of subject matter presented to | | | | interpersonal abilities, personal qualities, teamwork |
| our students during their basic educational tenure | | | | and communication. |
| far exceeds what was offered some 25 or 30 | | | | Unfortunately in many academic settings, such life |
| years ago. And while technology has certainly | | | | skills are only lightly touched on or not addressed |
| been a catalyst for expanding curricula, so too has | | | | at all. Emphasis has traditionally been placed on |
| the increasing demand for new knowledge. | | | | test scores and other subjective indicators of |
| But is this enough? Our experience suggests | | | | educational prowess that have yet to prove a |
| otherwise. While there is much to be said about a | | | | significant correlation with success. Sadly, the |
| formal education, just think how much more well | | | | vocalized life-skill needs of the world of work |
| rounded and prepared our students would be if | | | | have fallen on the deaf ears of many of our |
| they were also exposed to some of the more | | | | educational institutions and their leaders. |
| critical "life skills". Life skills are those skills that | | | | To be sure, life-skills are not a replacement for |
| transcend formal educational teaching and focus | | | | formal education, but instead a life-changing |
| on utilizing applied knowledge in conjunction with | | | | adjunct that should be seriously considered as |
| proper attitudes and behaviors, all of which can | | | | part of any student's ongoing development. A |
| mean the difference between success and failure. | | | | systematic, structured youth leadership process |
| The research report, Workforce 2020: Work and | | | | can be the difference moving forward from high |
| Workers of the 21st Century noted that personal | | | | school to college and college to the world of work. |