#466. 3 Reasons High Schools Should Teach Entrepreneurship

The topic of this week’s Agurban switches to our second favorite subject – entrepreneurship. We believe in the value of entrepreneurs to a community and are proud supporters of our local CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) classes at area high schools. The following article, which we will run over two weeks, definitely caught our attention.

3 Reasons High Schools Should Teach Entrepreneurship
Posted on 1/13/14 by Wheeler del Torro

High school students have always been informal entrepreneurs, but they’ve moved on from mowing lawns and babysitting to creating products and services that can compete in the open market.

The economy has also changed. No longer does a college education guarantee a secure, well-paying job, so students need to be equipped with the skills to be self-sufficient in this new marketplace — no matter what their post-graduation plans may be.

It’s time for high schools to catch up to the needs of their students and make entrepreneurship part of the curriculum. Here’s why:

1. The evolving economy demands an entrepreneurial spirit.
Millennials go through more career changes than ever before and often work in settings demanding more skills for less pay. This new standard has stirred many people to find creative ways to use their skills to generate extra income. The popularity of online communities like Etsy and Fiverr shows the demand to earn income independently. This trend can only be expected to increase, and students should be learning skills for the future.

2. Education alone is not enough.
Education credentials are still important, but they’re no longer a “ticket” to a great job after graduation. The traditional route that people used to get ahead in the past no longer guarantees success. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, has always offered a path for those who are willing to work hard to rise as far as their skills, perseverance, and creativity will take them.

3. Lifelong value is essential.
Fewer people will have traditional retirement benefits, so students will be better served by a career that can change and adjust over time. Once a student runs a business, he or she can change it, sell it, create a chain, or open another business. The opportunities are broad and aren’t limited by age.

Next week we will conclude this story with How to Prepare Students for Entrepreneurship.