The Importance of Education

Parents often emphasize the importance of taking school work seriously to our children.     WHY?

• EDUCATION GIVES YOU CHOICES
  You will probably work for at least 40 years, so you want job(s) that are challenging and meaningful.
  
  statistics from WolframAlpha:
  2010 US population: 309 million
  US adult males/females (ages 18–64): 95 million/96 million
  US adult civilian labor force: 156 million
  people who work comprise $\frac{156}{95+96} \approx 82\%$ of the adult work-age population
• FORMAL EDUCATION IS STATISTICALLY A GOOD THING FOR YOU TO HAVE
  
  

  Bureau of Labor Statistics [removed broken link]	median weekly earnings in 2011	unemployment rate in 2011
  less than high school diploma	\$451	14.1%
  high school diploma	\$638	9.4%
  some college, no degree	\$719	8.7%
  bachelor's degree	\$1053	4.9%
  professional degree (emphasizes skills and practical application over theory and research: e.g., vets and dentists)	\$1665	2.4%

• EDUCATION TEACHES YOU HOW TO LEARN and HELPS YOU DEVELOP GOOD WORKING SKILLS
  You need to learn in any profession you choose.
  
  

  SKILLS MOST DESIRED BY EMPLOYERS

  reference:   http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html
  

  	SELF-RATING (check one)
  SKILL SET	poor	average	very good	excellent
  Communications Skills: listen, write, and speak effectively
  Analytical/Research Skills: assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, identify key issues to be addressed
  Computer/Technical Literacy: basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets, and email
  Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities: manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, adapt to changing conditions and work assignments
  Interpersonal Abilities: relate to co-workers, inspire others to participate, mitigate conflict with co-workers
  Leadership/Management Skills: take charge and manage co-workers
  Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness: demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people and cultures
  Planning/Organizing: design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe; also involves goal-setting
  Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity: find solutions to problems using creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with available information and resources
  Teamwork: work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal

  PERSONAL VALUES EMPLOYERS SEEK IN EMPLOYEES

  reference:   http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html
  

  	SELF-RATING (check one)
  PERSONAL VALUE	poor	average	very good	excellent
  Honesty/Integrity/Morality: employers probably respect personal integrity more than any other value, especially in light of contemporary corporate scandals
  Adaptability/Flexibility: be open to new ideas and concepts; work independently or as part of a team; carry out multiple tasks or projects
  Dedication/Hard-Working/Work Ethic/Tenacity: love what you do; keep working until a job is done
  Dependability/Reliability/Responsibility: arrive to work every day on time and ready to work; take responsibility for your own actions
  Loyalty: have a strong devotion to your employer's company
  Positive Attitude/Motivation/Energy/Passion: have drive and passion; demonstrate this enthusiasm through words and actions
  Professionalism: act in a responsible and fair manner in all personal and work activities; avoid being petty
  Self-Confidence: be confident in yourself and what you can offer employers
  Self-Motivated/Ability to Work With Little or No Supervision: work independently, with minimal supervision
  Willingness to Learn: be willing to learn new skills and techniques; jobs are constantly changing and evolving—show an openness to grow and learn with that change

  
  
  

  TEN SKILLS EVERY CHILD SHOULD LEARN

  reference:   eschoolnews.com
  

  	SELF-RATING (check one)
  SKILL	poor	average	very good	excellent
  READ
  TYPE
  WRITE
  COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, AND WITH RESPECT
  QUESTION
  BE RESOURCEFUL
  BE ACCOUNTABLE
  KNOW HOW TO LEARN
  THINK CRITICALLY
  BE HAPPY

  
  DISCUSSION:
  
  • Do you believe formal education can help you develop these characteristics? If so, how? If not, why not?
  • Where else can you develop these characteristics?
• LEARNING IS OFTEN EASIER WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG
  
  • quotes from wiseGeek:
    

    Gray matter ... is a type of neural tissue which is found in the brain and spinal cord. It is named after its distinctive brownish-gray color ... Many people associate gray matter with intelligence and intellect, because it is a major component in the brain ...

    Research on the brain has shown that people have differing amounts of gray matter. The more dense the gray matter in a particular region of the brain, the more intelligence or skill the brain's owner is likely to have. People with unusually high levels of intelligence or unique skills tend to have notably high levels of gray matter in the parts of their brains which correlate to their ability.

• WISDOM REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE

  Wisdom: the combination of knowledge and experience;
  an understanding of what is true, together with the use of this understanding in the best possible way
  
  Wisdom increases throughout our entire lives!

  reference:   Elder Russel M. Nelson
  

  • Leaders of this Church have repeatedly emphasized the importance of education. It is a vital component of wisdom.
  • “Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.” (D&C 88:118)
    And He assures us that knowledge acquired here will be ours forever. (see D&C 130:18–19)