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A Nation of Entrepreneurs?

Publication Authors: 
William Damon
Publication Year: 
2014
Publication Journal: 
Defining Ideas, A Hoover Institution (online) Journal.

[Excerpt last paragraph]

No matter what the economic future brings, entrepreneurship is not for everyone. There always will be a social need for good workers in traditional salaried occupations of many kinds, and such workers will find meaning, pride, and sustenance in such work. But global technology is opening new pathways toward entrepreneurial careers and shifting the workforce balance in their favor. Our schools must do more than simply sort out those who already have the initiative and staying power to find and follow such pathways. At the pre-college level, our schools should make room for the range of subject matter that inspires student interest in the world beyond the classroom and cultivates the broader character strengths and mental habits that lead to success. In college, students should be offered opportunities to gain active experience in practical endeavors that build their skills and confidence rather than discourage their aspirations. Education, like all else, serves us best when it not only adapts to the times but grows along with them.