Education for the Economy
As we’ve all witnessed over the past decade, the world is changing at a rapid pace. This change spans all areas of our lives, including how we live, work and play. The scope and responsibilities of jobs also continue to change, and it’s very likely that the future will bring many careers that don’t even exist yet.
This environment of constant change makes providing children in the Merrill Area Public Schools with a quality education more important than ever before. It’s absolutely critical that schools prepare all students for life after graduation, equipping them not only with practical skills, but also capabilities like problem solving, critical thinking and communication. And to be sure, a positive, constructive work ethic is a basis for personal development in our youth.
While we don’t necessarily know what types of jobs young people will need to fill in the future, we do know that they will require these important skills. Workers will need to have the ability to master constantly evolving technologies and solve problems on the go, relearning and adapting to new environments as the economy and jobs change. We are starting to see this happen today, with many of the new jobs that are created requiring employees to think on their feet and leverage technology in order to complete tasks.
For any community to thrive in the future, it is thus important that it has a strong and flexible public school system. As any business owner knows, having access to a skilled and educated workforce is a key component to success, as cultivating strong people leads to an organization’s ability to grow. This capacity building starts at an early age, starting from a solid pre-kindergarten program all the way through to high school graduation and postsecondary training or education.
In short, education continues to be an important driver of economic development, helping individuals pull themselves out of poverty and into careers that allow them to achieve true success. If a community is full of residents who have these vital skills, it will become a hub for employers. That’s the community we need to envision for the Merrill area.
The Merrill Area Public Schools district is known for being on the forefront of the latest trends and technologies in education, and is constantly striving to better prepare students for adult life. For this community to truly thrive in the years ahead, we need to continue to support our schools-both now and into the future.