Local schools take a hard look at soft skills
Recently, a distribution plant in our little town of Brookville held a job fair. The goal was to fill 80 immediate full-time openings. Eighty openings? What could they possibly be looking for that is so difficult to find?
What we in education are repeatedly told by employers, business advisory councils and chamber of commerce members is they have a growing need for applicants who possess elusive soft skills. Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.
Research from the Society for Human Resource Management found that employers actually care more about soft skills than they do technical abilities like reading comprehension and mathematics. Terms such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem solving, critical analysis, and leadership are used to describe soft skills. Some employers go to ground zero in saying just give me someone who is going to show up on-time, every day, drug-free with a willingness to work.
Striking a balance
Therefore, we have set out in Brookville Schools and across Montgomery County to meet the needs of children in this fashion. It means striking a balance. A balance between preparing students for the world of technology without allowing so much screen time that they do not know how to communicate. A balance between preparing for standardized tests, while still allowing for student creativity and development of teamwork skills. A balance between following the rules of mathematics, while still being adaptable and analytical.
Much like meeting all the necessary elements of a well-balanced diet, we understand this new focus on soft skills has to be on the plate of students we serve.
Intentional effort
I believe teaching interpersonal skills has always been a part of what classroom teachers do. We found a way to stress work ethic, leadership, written and verbal communication skills.
However, now the effort must be intentional. A hard look at what soft skills students leave with in their toolbox has now become an overt part of the school day.
At Brookville, we have a Foundations class for students in grades five through eight.
Emphasis includes focus on grit, perseverance, professionalism in communication, reflection for improvement, creative and collaborative thinking and accountability.
We have sought out opportunities in the elementary grades to teach young people how to properly provide and accept critical peer feedback in a graceful manner.
At the high school, we now have classes that stress the soft skills that allow students to make a positive contribution to both the workforce and community.
These classes are not unique to Brookville. Similar courses are happening across our county and state.
While the balancing act is tricky, we are diligent in answering to the skill set being requested by employers. It is a combination of both hard technical skills and those elusive soft skills.