Join AnnArbor.com for a live chat from Governor Snyder's economic summit
Join AnnArbor.com and MLive business reporters from across the state for a live chat during the Governor’s Economic Summit in Detroit on Monday.
We will be offering commentary and analysis from the morning speeches that include remarks from Governor Rick Snyder, business economist Paul Traub, and James B. Nicholson, the CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan.
AnnArbor.com file photo
The talks will be focused on the issue of a “talent gap” in Michigan and how to better orient the state’s workforce towards available jobs in the new, more knowledge-based economy.
We’ll start chatting at 9 a.m. and go throughout the day. Please chime in with questions or comments!
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2
Comments
Topher
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 1:19 p.m.
As a teacher (who's taught in both public and private schools recently) I've been thinking a lot about the narrative we tell students. In private school, the narrative is this: You can do anything. Find what you're passionate about, follow that dream. In public school, the narrative used to be the same as above, but is being shifted to: There are x, y, and z jobs available. We need to train students for the "jobs of the future" to fill the gaps.
Basic Bob
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 4:08 p.m.
I tell my kids that if they want to do something well, they need to be passionate about it. There are musicians, artists, and athletes that are very happy, some are even financially successful. To study to be an accountant, engineer, or nurse and then decide you loathe the people and the work will not lead to a successful or happy life. Incurring student loans that will take 30 years to pay off might not be a good investment for everyone. The days of working at a dead end factory job with generous vacation allowances, and being able to retire young with a second home, travel trailer, and power boat are probably over for most people.
Usual Suspect
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
They're both right, just one of them is more economically realistic than the other. Sure, you can be an extremely good artist if you really try. But will anybody pay you to be a good artist, or will you need another job on the side in order to survive? That's another story.
Topher
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
Call it pragmatism for the middle and lower classes, I'd call it luxury for the wealthy. I'd argue that those with wealth will be able to pass money on to their children who won't really need jobs - they'll dabble in their hobbies or passions. Jobs, for the very wealthy, are about how to spend your time following a passion. Jobs for the middle and lower classes are about paying bills and surviving.
Ben Freed
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 2:14 p.m.
That's a very interesting difference. Seems like public schools are actually being more pragmatic.
A2anon
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 12:23 p.m.
PS -- please don't point to the so-called increase that you provided this year, as you are well aware that given the under-funded pension system that you have not fixed, any increases will go to that, and the pension system will continue to take more and more percentage of school budgets every single year.
A2anon
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.
QUESTION FOR SNYDER: You talk about building a "knowledge based economy" at the same time that you have presided over a massive de-funding of public school education. Per-pupil funding has plummeted in the past decade, and is lower now than it was in 1994. Studies show a direct correlation between investing in schools, and student achievement. We haven't even adjusted funding for inflation for years. While our legislators' kids go to private schools with small class sizes and great enrichment, the rest of us face rising class sizes and cuts. At what point do you realize that taking from the school aid fund for purposes OTHER than K-12 funding is the wrong move, as well as against the will of the voters who supported Prop A?
Paula Gardner
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
As some readers have pointed out - including in other story threads - the headline on this article contained more than one spelling error in the first moments it was published. The mistakes also are present in our daily newsletter. We apologize for this.
4Bells
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 11:03 a.m.
Not to mention "econimic" Blame it on the talent gap???
AMOC
Mon, Mar 18, 2013 : 10:19 a.m.
From, not form. Annarbor.com needs an actual proofreader, not just spell-check.