Many people—parents, students, and even educators—operate under the erroneous assumption that business education is only for students who expect to graduate and pursue a career in business.  The information contained within the business education curriculum is not only valuable for all students in today’s world, but also is critical for the success of our country.  All students need to have a general understanding of how the American economy operates and the role business plays in the economic well-being of this country.  Not to mention, the absolute necessity for student to be able to understand and utilize technology in their personal and professional lives.Recent studies show that 70% of secondary students want to start their own businesses; yet, only about 15% feel that they have the skills and knowledge to do so.  Also, it is a well-publicized fact that today’s graduates will change CAREERS (not jobs, in the sense of moving to a higher level position or moving across town to do the same job) at least seven times in their professional job years.  This means students need to have the knowledge and skills it takes to become a lifelong learner and to harness the momentum of the business world to their advantage!

   BUSINESS EDUCATION DOES ALL THIS AND MORE!

WHAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BUSINESS...

Students who elect to study business may do so for a variety of reasons.  They may be interested in business education because they want to learn about investments, develop computer skills, or understand how economic principles apply to life.  They may study business because they intend to go to work immediately after graduating from high school or a community college.  Some study business to learn the basics of entrepreneurship so they can start they own business.  Still others may have decided that pursuing a college degree in business is their goal so they study business education to prepare for higher education. 

The National Business Education Association and members of the business education community recommend that at the completion of secondary school, students should be able to:

 
  • Function as economically literate citizens through the development of
    personal consumer economic skills, a knowledge of social and government
    responsibility, and an understanding of business operations.
 
  • Demonstrate interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills necessary to
    function in multicultural business settings.
 
  • Develop career awareness and related skills to enable them to make viable
    career choices and become employable in a variety of business careers.
 
  • Select and apply the tools of technology as they relate to personal and
    business decision making.
 
  • Communicate effectively as writers, listeners, and speakers in social
    and business settings.
 
  • Use accounting procedures to make decisions about planning, organizing,
    and allocating resources.
 
  • Apply the principles of law in personal and business settings.
 
  • Prepare to become entrepreneurs by drawing from their general
    understanding of all aspects of business.
 
  • Understand the interrelationships of different functional areas of
    business and the impact of one component on another.
 
  • Develop the ability to participate in business transactions in both
    the domestic and international arenas.
 
  • Develop the ability to market the assets each individual has whether
    they be in the labor market or in the consumer goods market.
 
  • Manage data from all of the functional areas of business needed to
    make wise management decisions.
 
  • Utilize analytical tools needed to understand and make reasoned
    decisions about economic issues—both personal and societal.


Information taken from the National Standards for Business Education, Copyright 1995 by the National Business Education Association.