The vast majority of U.S. high school students (85%) take at least one “career or technical education” course in high school, according to the National Center on Education Statistics. However, far fewer (about 26%) take a personal finance course, and even fewer (21%) take a business education course, according to recent data.
Some institutions happily push back on this trend. For example, Delphian School, an independent K-12 school in rural Oregon, offers immersive business education coursework as well as optional enrichments like field trips to visit with and interview employers. The idea is to expose students to the full breadth of opportunities available to them after graduation.
As Delphian School says, “Some young people have known what sort of career they’d like to pursue since they were small children. Many others, however, are full of uncertainty when it comes to the path they’d like to take.”
This is a compelling argument for business education in high school. And it’s not the only one. Here’s why forward-thinking institutions like Delphian School advocate for more business coursework for more students.
It’s a Practical Window Into “Adult” Life
For better or worse, the “adult” world is driven by the practical (and often pragmatic) concepts students learn in business courses. And in other subjects, too, but basic business economics explains a lot of what graduates will encounter as they move into their working lives.
In short, business coursework is less theoretical, at least in the most direct sense, than most work primary- and secondary-school students do. This is true even if said students have no intention of going into business themselves — though that sentiment is less common than one might expect.
It Nudges Some Students to Give Themselves a Head Start
According to one recent survey, more than two in three young people aspire to be an entrepreneur.
“Entrepreneurship training prepares kids for their own stated goals. Almost 70% of high school students say they want to own their own business one day,” notes Lemonade Day, which offers business-oriented educational programming for young children.
Seen this way, taking a business class might be just what an entrepreneurship-curious student needs to move forward. Perhaps sooner than they were anticipating.
Some of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, began their business journeys soon after graduating high school. For what it’s worth, neither finished college. And some young entrepreneurs begin even earlier, launching thriving enterprises before they’re old enough to vote.
It “Connects the Dots” Between the Classroom and the Real World
Business education can bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. In fact, it almost requires this.
As the education experts at the University of Michigan advise, teachers should “prepare several different ways of explaining the material — real-life examples, analogies, visuals, etc. — to catch the attention of more students and appeal to different learning styles.” The best business lessons do just this by reinforcing key concepts with examples drawn from recent history or even current events, replete with names even non-news junkie students might recognize.
It Reinforces Math, Science and Reading Comprehension (Among Other Subjects)
Business education can also reinforce concepts (and competencies) students learn in other courses. For example, even entry-level business courses involve some basic math instruction — dollars and cents, literally — as well as textual examples and even evidence-based analysis, especially as coursework draws on economic theory.
It’s not hard to see how business coursework can serve as a “force multiplier” for these other subjects and skills, thus reinforcing the value of a well-rounded education.
It Can Put Low-Key Opportunities on Students’ Radar
Even in the classroom, business education can serve as a bridge between the practical and the theoretical, as we’ve seen. It’s even more powerful when brought out into the real world through field trips and other forms of experiential learning, as Delphian School does with periodic “site visits” to firms across a range of industries. A simple conversation with, or hands-on demonstration from, a business owner or subject matter expert could well be enough to change the course of a student’s life.
Final Thoughts
We’ve danced around the idea that high school business courses can be fun, but now let’s come out and say it: High school business courses can be fun!
Sure, “because it’s fun” can be a dangerous reason to encourage (and certainly to mandate) a particular pedagogical pathway. At the same time, evidence suggests students learn better when they’re enjoying themselves. Why not balance out all the coursework students are required to complete by law or policy with more engaging, laid-back, and optional coursework?
As we’ve seen, at least some students who opt in will find themselves drawn down unexpected paths. Some of which could lead to horizon-expanding, career-making destinations.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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