There’s little doubt that education and opportunity are tightly joined in the twenty-first-century economy. Almost every week brings a new study demonstrating that highly skilled workers are being rewarded with stronger pay and excellent working conditions, while Americans with few skills are struggling mightily. This has become a major theme of the presidential campaign—and a rallying cry for the so-called "reformicons."
Expanding educational achievement, then, appears to be a clear route to expanding economic opportunity. Yet much of our public discourse ends here. Of course more young Americans need better education in order to succeed. But what kind of education: Is the goal “college for all”? What do we mean by “college”? Do our young people mostly need a strong foundation in academics? What about so-called “non-cognitive” skills? Should technical education make a comeback?
These are the questions that Michael Petrilli sets out to answer in his new book, Education for Upward Mobility.
PANELISTS:
John Corlett - President and Executive Director, The Center for Community Solutions
Steve Dackin - Superintendent of School and Community Partnerships, Columbus State Community College
The Honorable Bill Patmon - Ohio House of Representatives, District 10
MODERATOR:
Mary Mogan Edwards - Education reporter, The Columbus Dispatch