In my second year as a teacher, I turned my h.s. economics class into an entrepreneurship class. Unfortunately, at that time, I did not make the connection between growing entrepreneurs and growing stronger rural communities. Instead of teaching them to recognize opportunities in rural communities, I encouraged them to find opportunities in urban settings. In other words, my efforts didn’t achieve the goals you outline above.

With this in mind, I would encourage any rural school developing an entrepreneurship program to make sure that efforts connects students to their communities.

Currently, I write for our organization’s blog — http://www.reimaginerural.com. Because we believe there is a strong connection between strong schools and strong communities, I write occasional posts on education. If you can share more specifics about the programs you mention above, I would love to learn more. Thanks.

But I think the reason we may not have led the world at any time in test scores but have in creativity and innovation is because in this country we have allowed, emphasized, and stood for freedom. We are free to think, say, and act in ways that are contrary to conventional wisdom (within the legal boundaries). And those “rebels” are not silenced. They may not get their way, but at the end of they day those who have different ideas are mostly respected and allowed to be different. That, in my opinion, is why our country is and will continue to lead the world even if it isn’t in standardized test scores.

JFJ Curious to see what all you intellectuals have to say about this……. -JR….

I am obviously a college person. I, like you, have been there many times. I have supported the “enterprise” of higher education, and it is an enterprise. I just don’t think it should be the only enterprise valued above all others.

I would not be where I am today without the college degrees I have, but I do remember a moment during my doctoral days, when it became clear to me that I was going to have a lot to learn to be a superintendent rather than just knowing about superintendents. If it weren’t for a couple of college professors who also understood this, and made it a requirement to know how to do something rather than just knowing about it, I might not have ever gotten a job.

So, we must do better in whatever level of education we have, with the “technical skills” of being in a carrer area, even those knowledge worker areas.

Bill

SCJ This website is wonderful. How did you come up witht he notion? -BV….