Is it time for the private sector to take over educating their future employees?

Agreed, and that is long overdue.

I am glad to see that more people see that it is time for a change, and are looking for alternatives that provide more choices, and opportunities.

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We have many young people who feel very good about themselves, having a high "self esteem", but are low on academics or practical skills after graduating high school.

Most often the greatest deficiency is in reading, comprehension, and proper communication skills.

Sadly; when one cannot read, or comprehend, any skill requiring reading at a higher level will also become substandard at best.

The best solution for America's youth, and their future is for companies to greatly increase apprenticeship programs, and do a lot of on the job training themselves to fill in the gab where the school system has dropped the ball.

Another option would be for companies to take an active role in, and promote the refocusing of our high schools to include more skilled job courses that will directly relate to what the student wants to do after high school.

An added benefit would be a pool of educated employees, or entrepreneurs, as well as more students may choose to stay in school if their studies had a purpose, with career or job prospects.

Edit:

To CNJRTOM; Freedom of choice in education, or the workforce would not be limited by this, just the opposite; by providing people with skills that are actually in demand we may not have so many college graduates working in fields that are not what their degree is in, or end up in the service industry because their diploma, or degree does not translate into anything useful.

Read the teaching section from time to time, and see how many ask what job can I get with this degree??

Many local businesses in my area are cooperating with the community colleges and technology institutes and vo-techs to have courses developed specifically for their needs. One of these institutions has a program for manufacturing line jobs so that when the employee is placed on the line he does not need to be trained in general operations or health and safety concerns.

I believe educators will address real world problems, but the employers need to work with the institutions and let them know what type of coursework is needed and to employ the graduates of the programs.

It sounds like you are suggesting corporations become involved in educating the young people who will eventually be the workforce they will employee. God forbid that ever happens! Corporations only have their own best interests at heart, and that does not include the interests of their employees... only their CEOs, officers, and board members, ultimately. These are the people they mean when they refer to "stockholders". They aren't talking about the little guy. Any education which corporations supported or provided would be incomplete and biased at best.

I agree that education is becoming too expensive, and the free education that is available in the U.S. is rapidly getting worse, but corporations aren't the answer.