Entrepreneurs need cultivation

Dear Editor:

May I ask the author of our Opinion column, “Reducing dropouts may be biggest school challenge,” and Drew Ruble, author of “State entrepreneurial activity lags,” to prepare an action plan for our state?

The goal and purpose by our state for education has been to produce a good supply of employees; a work force for employers. This goal has gone a long way to improve and form our education system. I think it is time for a change. The lack of an educated employee pool is no longer the primary hindrance to increased industry or income growth within the state.

A community needs double the jobs in support of the employees of a major employer: Entrepreneurs. Most of these are small and independent business people. For success, these people need a different education basis than those employees. For an economic base for their families and our counties, our state needs a broader education goal.

Entrepreneurs don’t make good employees and often don’t make good students in traditional school models. They often drop out. Good students will have many opportunities, but don’t make the best entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs need to be cultivated as we have cultivated a work force. They need to be identified early and given different challenges and opportunities to develop their potential. Identifying and developing their potential needs to be a goal incorporated into our education system.

According to some PBS programming, some select school districts have developed entrepreneurial-focused programs with various objectives. Some of the success and failures in the development of these programs may provide a springboard for a more comprehensive program that could be incorporated into a statewide education goal.

Can we develop an action plan for our state that will get the support of our Governor and state and local education boards?

Carroll Cate
314 W. College Ave.
Friendsville, TN 37737