What I'm about to share strikes close to home, because, to some extent, I fall into the category of people I'm describing. It's written out of concern, not by way of criticism.
In recent years I've had the opportunity to associate closely with young people in the 18-30 age group. Prior to that I'd served in various settings as a religious instructor to high school teens of all ages. It was a great experience. Yet while I always found them to be delightful, energetic, and fun-loving, I found that regardless of their age there was a common thread, particularly among the young men: the lack of planning for post-high-school education.
I'm concerned that many young men, once high school graduation has passed, have no educational or career goals. There were times that I wanted to hold up a huge banner that said,"Breaking News: Scientists Have Discovered That There Is Life After High School!"
Of greater concern is the number of young men returning from LDS missions who have no idea what they want to do with their lives. When I've asked them about their future plans, college isn't even on their list of options. Instead of choosing a specific career path aligned with their unique abilities and interests, many simply drift into a job -- any job. I know the feeling.
Although I did take some college, before and after my mission, I hadn't a clue what I really wanted to study or what career path I wanted to follow. Since returning from my mission and getting married, I have had 8 different jobs. Only one of them was because I actually planned it. The others all came about by happenstance.
I admit that few really end up in a the "dream job" they envisioned when they were in their teens, but there still remains that basic need to get an education. Addressing the young men of the Church in the October 2006 general priesthood meeting, President Gordon B. Hinckley gave this counsel: "I call your attention to another matter that gives me great concern. In revelation the Lord has mandated that this people get all the education they can. He has been very clear about this. But there is a troubling trend taking place. Elder Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Church Education, advises me that in the United States nearly 73 percent of young women graduate from high school, compared to 65 percent of young men. Young men are more likely to drop out of school than young women. "Approximately 61 percent of young men enroll in college immediately following high school, compared to 72 percent for young women. In 1950, 70 percent of those enrolled in college were males, and 30 percent were females; by 2010 projections estimate 40 percent will be males, and 60 percent will be females. "Women have earned more bachelor’s degrees than men every year since 1982 and more master’s degrees since 1986. "It is plainly evident from these statistics that young women are exceeding young men in pursuing educational programs. And so I say to you young men, rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities. Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being “equally yoked.” That applies, I think, to the matter of education. "In addition, your education will strengthen your service in the Church. A study was made some years ago that indicated the higher the education, the greater the faith and participation in religious activity" ("Rise Up, O Men of God," Ensign, Nov. 2006.)
Here's another concern: the under-education of many coming out of high school. Many are lacking basic communication skills (spelling, grammar, being able to write well) and are particularly ignorant about world history and current events. On that topic, you may find the following links of interest. The first is an excerpt from a speech by Ben Stein to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in 2008. Entertaining but so true.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/ben-stein-americas-education-crisis/0e72ea171fff3a1083520e72ea171fff3a108352-959054546245?q=Ferris+Bueller+%2b+Ben+Stein&FROM=LKVR5>1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR29
The second link will take you to a very interesting report called "Still at Risk: What Students Don't Know Even Now." The title says it all. It's a 24-page report. If you don't have time to review it all, here's an excerpt: "As Emory Professor Mark Bauerlein reports in his forthcoming book, The Dumbest Generation, American youth have more schooling, money, leisure time, and information than any previous generation, yet they devote enormous quantities of time to social networking websites, television, and video games. Young people, on average, spend two to four hours daily watching television or playing video games; most cannot name their mayor, governor, or senator, and 45 percent are unable to comprehend a sample ballot. . . "Nearly a quarter of 17-year-olds did not know that George Washington commanded the American army in the Revolutionary War. Forty percent could not identify the proper half-century in which the First World War took place. One-fourth thought Christopher Columbus had landed in the New World after 1750. More than a quarter did not know that it is the Declaration of Independence that declares that all men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” See the report here: http://commoncore.org/_docs/CCreport_stillatrisk.pdf
In the U.S. Army's ads encouraging young people to enlist, they say, "Be all that you can be." Without a proper education, there's little chance. Hoping some of this may be useful to you.
In recent years I've had the opportunity to associate closely with young people in the 18-30 age group. Prior to that I'd served in various settings as a religious instructor to high school teens of all ages. It was a great experience. Yet while I always found them to be delightful, energetic, and fun-loving, I found that regardless of their age there was a common thread, particularly among the young men: the lack of planning for post-high-school education.
I'm concerned that many young men, once high school graduation has passed, have no educational or career goals. There were times that I wanted to hold up a huge banner that said,"Breaking News: Scientists Have Discovered That There Is Life After High School!"
Of greater concern is the number of young men returning from LDS missions who have no idea what they want to do with their lives. When I've asked them about their future plans, college isn't even on their list of options. Instead of choosing a specific career path aligned with their unique abilities and interests, many simply drift into a job -- any job. I know the feeling.
Although I did take some college, before and after my mission, I hadn't a clue what I really wanted to study or what career path I wanted to follow. Since returning from my mission and getting married, I have had 8 different jobs. Only one of them was because I actually planned it. The others all came about by happenstance.
I admit that few really end up in a the "dream job" they envisioned when they were in their teens, but there still remains that basic need to get an education. Addressing the young men of the Church in the October 2006 general priesthood meeting, President Gordon B. Hinckley gave this counsel: "I call your attention to another matter that gives me great concern. In revelation the Lord has mandated that this people get all the education they can. He has been very clear about this. But there is a troubling trend taking place. Elder Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Church Education, advises me that in the United States nearly 73 percent of young women graduate from high school, compared to 65 percent of young men. Young men are more likely to drop out of school than young women. "Approximately 61 percent of young men enroll in college immediately following high school, compared to 72 percent for young women. In 1950, 70 percent of those enrolled in college were males, and 30 percent were females; by 2010 projections estimate 40 percent will be males, and 60 percent will be females. "Women have earned more bachelor’s degrees than men every year since 1982 and more master’s degrees since 1986. "It is plainly evident from these statistics that young women are exceeding young men in pursuing educational programs. And so I say to you young men, rise up and discipline yourself to take advantage of educational opportunities. Do you wish to marry a girl whose education has been far superior to your own? We speak of being “equally yoked.” That applies, I think, to the matter of education. "In addition, your education will strengthen your service in the Church. A study was made some years ago that indicated the higher the education, the greater the faith and participation in religious activity" ("Rise Up, O Men of God," Ensign, Nov. 2006.)
Here's another concern: the under-education of many coming out of high school. Many are lacking basic communication skills (spelling, grammar, being able to write well) and are particularly ignorant about world history and current events. On that topic, you may find the following links of interest. The first is an excerpt from a speech by Ben Stein to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in 2008. Entertaining but so true.
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/ben-stein-americas-education-crisis/0e72ea171fff3a1083520e72ea171fff3a108352-959054546245?q=Ferris+Bueller+%2b+Ben+Stein&FROM=LKVR5>1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR29
The second link will take you to a very interesting report called "Still at Risk: What Students Don't Know Even Now." The title says it all. It's a 24-page report. If you don't have time to review it all, here's an excerpt: "As Emory Professor Mark Bauerlein reports in his forthcoming book, The Dumbest Generation, American youth have more schooling, money, leisure time, and information than any previous generation, yet they devote enormous quantities of time to social networking websites, television, and video games. Young people, on average, spend two to four hours daily watching television or playing video games; most cannot name their mayor, governor, or senator, and 45 percent are unable to comprehend a sample ballot. . . "Nearly a quarter of 17-year-olds did not know that George Washington commanded the American army in the Revolutionary War. Forty percent could not identify the proper half-century in which the First World War took place. One-fourth thought Christopher Columbus had landed in the New World after 1750. More than a quarter did not know that it is the Declaration of Independence that declares that all men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” See the report here: http://commoncore.org/_docs/CCreport_stillatrisk.pdf
In the U.S. Army's ads encouraging young people to enlist, they say, "Be all that you can be." Without a proper education, there's little chance. Hoping some of this may be useful to you.
