A San Miguel Leader Reflects on the Economics of Education

Written by Tad Smith, Principal at the Back of the Yards Campus

Is there an issue dominating our media headlines in greater detail these days than the future of our economy?  Uncertainty about the direction in which our country is headed can gnaw away at our optimism, rob us of the energy to get our work done, and limit our ability to arrive at effective solutions to our current problems.

I began to think about urban education just over twenty years ago at a time when similar sentiments of uncertainty were encouraged by an economic downturn.  I had been working in business long enough to notice the number of young people who walked into the office lacking the work, learning, and social skills necessary for them to show up on time, follow directions, read and comprehend procedural manuals, get along with co-workers, and keep their jobs!  Resources were wasted and business sometimes stalled because it proved difficult to find employees with the tools necessary to work effectively.  It occurred to me that our educational system was not only failing individuals, but the national economy was suffering because our students were promoted out of school and into the work force without an appropriate education.

If students are sent out of schools ill equipped, a whole host of problems follows young people as they struggle to find their way.  In the end, every one of us eventually pays for the mistake of not preparing students adequately for the future that awaits them beyond graduation.  As a society, we have a choice to invest in effective educational systems that promote students who are well prepared to meet the challenges ahead of them, or blame the problem on forces beyond our control and try to forget about it.

To me, it just makes good sense for all of us to contribute in whatever way we are able to provide young people with a sound, practical, and suitable education.  A way that gives students their best shot at personal success and a sense of responsibility for the welfare of others.  These are not new ideas, rather ideas at the foundation of our republic; unfortunately, too often lost in the shuffle of contemporary American society.

At San Miguel, I have the privilege of working with children in the nascent stages of developing skills they can carry with them all through their lives. Our educational model focuses on those essential learning, thinking, and life skills needed to best serve our students in the future.  This practical approach to education is rooted in the Lasallian tradition, which for more than three hundred years, has challenged educators to assess the needs of their students and design a curriculum that meets those needs.  We are working at the front of the equation that adds up to individual success and contributes to the common good.

Will the graduates of San Miguel single-handedly guarantee the economic stability of our nation?  Probably not by themselves, but they are, and will be, a part of the solution to our problems.  I know this because I see the light of optimism in their eyes each day.  I coach them as they struggle to learn, grow, and stay on task in spite of the significant obstacles in their paths.  They inspire me with their confidence and compassion, and the future looks better because I know how hard they are willing to work.  I believe, with our encouragement and God's blessing, the students entrusted to our care may just have what it takes to look at the challenges of the future and figure it out.