Years ago, I taught English in a high school in Southern California. During this time, the idea of preparing students for future employment seemed to be an important issue. The term "salable skill" was discussed over and over. Whether the students would graduate from high school with a salable skill was the question of the day.
Since moving here to Utah about eight years ago, my wife and I have opened a small fast-food business. As you might imagine, we have hired many young men and women who are still in high school. We have had some employees who have been excellent, and we have had some who just haven't made it. The ones who haven't made it were lacking in one or more of the following abilities: being honest in handling money, being courteous and friendly to customers and fellow employees, concentrating on learning to do the job efficiently, looking clean and presentable to the customers, being dependable and on time, and keeping the workplace clean. To me, these are the salable skills that I need my employees to exhibit. If these skills are not being taught in the schools, then I can understand why I'm just not getting the caliber of employee that we need.If there are some educators out there who disagree that these skills should be taught in the schools, then I can understand why those of us who are running small businesses are fighting an uphill battle.
Don Brown
Syracuse