Education and Business

         The Great Recession has caused serious problems for the balance of education and career.  It used to be that the minority of students could go on from high school to College and get a degree that would qualify for a higher level job opportunity or career path based on education specialization.  Now, however, fewer graduates are finding adequate employment, or any employment, in order to make up for the investment, let alone profit from it.  Spending thousands of dollars and spending years of time that could be invested in some other way, but college is an option that has a shrinking margin of profit.  I'm not suggesting that high school grads shouldn't go to college, but depending on the desired career path, there are other options such as vocational schools and associates degrees.  

Research universities are providing a key asset to businesses through innovation and data compilation.  Creativity is a critical component to the future of the information sector, and without pursuing reform that will harness and facilitate growth in this area, we could see stunted growth in the not too distant future.  In fact, it seems that testing has created an environment of education where memorizing only the minimum is praised, and the freedom to be creative is nonexistent.  

http://www.aei.org/papers/education/higher-education/innovation2/takingcharge/?gclid=CMeRlKun-LkCFUyd4AodVl4AHw

         According to the article, opportunities for jobs that require these qualifications are growing, due to the decline in manufacturing, increase in the information sector and troubles in the economy.  The relationship between education and the economy is going to take a new direction if this trend continues.  Education reform is geared toward improving education through accountability to teachers and administrators, and by increasing standardized tests.  However, this hasn't proven to improve higher learning skills, but instead is creating a hostile learning environment filled with stress and even more conflict between teacher and student.