Entrepreneurship education is the key to setting our children up for independence

Our schools do not teach our children to be independent.  Donald Reimer wrote in the Detroiter Magazine that “most school curricula tend to focus on obtaining a job – on working for someone else.”  He goes on to argue that this “puts students on the road to dependency.” 

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” 

Well, teach someone to turn their ability to fish and knowledge of fishing into a business venture and you have made them independent.  Not only will this person now enjoy independence, but also they will provide goods and/or services to others and contribute to the economy by creating jobs for others.

Graduates of our education system are ill equipped to become independent.  High schools, colleges, non-profits, and government agencies are finally realizing that in order to sustain the growth we have experienced, we need to do more than train people to fill open positions. 

We need to teach our young people to create their own opportunities…

Entrepreneurship education is vital to the continued growth of our economy and our society.  We must begin this education early.  Parents can even begin this education at home.  Expose children to a variety of business settings.  Seek out opportunities to practice entrepreneurial skills. 

Encourage open-ended discussion, free thinking, and new ideas.  Even if you don’t end up with the next famous entrepreneur, your child will be better in whatever job he/she takes having gained an entrepreneurial perspective.