RE: Question 1: School to work

While I agree with Vicki Barber's assertion that the primary goal of education is to develop 'productive' citizens, I think we need to be careful that 'productive' is not defined solely as being employable.  Of course this is an important role schooling plays but I would also like to think we are developing individuals who are in command of themselves, who think well and make good decisions, who are not self-centered in their goals but consider the 'common good' in how they live and the decisions they make.  

I want a citizenry that examines and reflects upon the social, political AND economic systems of our country and decide whether or not these are worth pursuing or they need to be changed.

If we are wanting to track employablity rates among our graduates do we also want to track the other goals and outcomes of our graduates too.  

Robert Reich makes this point explicit in his assessment of the educational system in his book Toward the Work of Nations.  Book worth reading.