Imagine, bringing business leaders into classrooms to explain to students that by taking more challenging courses, they are better preparing themselves for economic opportunities.
It’s a great concept – and it’s now happening here in Rhode Island, thanks to the Education Partnership, a group formed this summer by the merging of The Business Education Roundtable and The Public Education Fund. Its mission is to “champion solutions at the highest levels that establish clear, challenging standards to improve academic achievement. …”
One step toward meeting that goal is the creation of the “Rhode Island Scholars” program. More than 100 business leaders have already committed to visit eighth grade classrooms in four pilot communities – Providence, Portsmouth, West Warwick and Westerly – and discuss the long-term benefits of completing a college-prep curriculum.
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The business leaders will explain that taking that extra year of math or chemistry or a foreign language is a wise investment – one that will ultimately pay dividends.
The program has attracted the attention of some prominent business leaders who recognize that a better-educated group of high school students will eventually translate into a more productive work force.
Roger Williams Medical Center President Robert Urciuoli, chairman of the Rhode Island Scholars initiative, points out that the health care industry is Rhode Island’s largest and will have a need for as many as 10,000 skilled workers in the next few years.
“Companies like Raytheon and Amgen share our need for educated workers, and math, science and communication skills are increasingly in demand among other world-class companies we would like to see move to Rhode Island,” said Urciuoli. “Students who complete a solid academic course of study like the one our coalition has defined will have currency in the 21st-century job market and will help Rhode Island compete for employers who offer higher paying jobs.”
Gov. Don Carcieri also draws a direct link between academic curriculum – and economic development.
“Frankly, a large part of our broader economic-development strategy relies heavily on improving public education in Rhode Island,” he said. “It’s imperative that we work with the business community to determine the skills and knowledge needed for a strong work force moving forward.”
That so many business leaders are embracing this program – and are willing to commit their time and energy to seeing that it succeeds – is evidence of just how important it is.
There may be nothing more powerful for a 14-year-old to hear than the message from a successful businessperson that education is not only important, but is critical to opening doors. And that taking the easy way out in middle school or high school represents an opportunity wasted.
We suspect that as this “Rhode Island Scholars” program plays out, we will see that when challenged, students respond – that they are willing and able to clear a higher academic bar.
The results of this initiative will be good for everyone, both in the short term and down the road.
We commend the efforts of the Education Partnership for making it possible and the business leaders who have already demonstrated their support by agreeing to visit classrooms and talk to students. The message they have to deliver could not be more important.
