Velocity Learning Systems would like to thank Blouke Carus for his instrumental work in shaping our mission. His landmark paper, Made In America, highlights several key observations, findings and objectives regarding the state of education in the United States. Among the objectives set forth in his paper are: developing rigorous instruction in literature, composition and mathematics, the sciences and foreign languages before high school; broadening the concept of college for all to include other post-secondary options; and an expanded role of employers in education.
Talking about the role of employers, Carus writes “The employers which are more actively involved in education (Caterpillar, Siemens, Mercury Marine, Bison Gear, and thousands of others) have found that the investments in education pay off handsomely.”
He goes on to explain that this ROI doesn’t come in the form of a “do-gooder” reputation. The pay-offs are much more concrete and important. Carus says that a highly-skilled workforce is necessary for a business to stay competitive, and developing its own world-class workforce is a corporate survival strategy.
“American employers already invest about $400 billion in education every year,” He writes. “So it is just a matter of directing some of those investments towards internships, work-based learning, mentors, and new ways to develop curricula and assessments which will motivate and prepare students for the new and challenging fields which require new skills and new knowledge for tomorrow’s jobs.”
Carus also notes that Career and Technical Education need to be integrated with the “common core” of academic instruction. Added resources from employers students can become more familiar with career opportunities. Students should explore and select a tentative career area (cluster) in the 9th grade, participate in work-based learning, seek adult mentors, and earn an industry-recognized certification; all in the field or cluster of their choice.
Rigorous courses in the language arts, sciences and mathematics will support this career exploration and experiential learning with the academic skills to be successful.
It is upon these premises set forth in Made In America, as well as Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Pathways_to_Prosperity Report that the Velocity team bases its mission and work. We are committed to implementing these ideas through our consulting practice as well as our solution suite.