Jason Keas
2000 Grand Prize Winner, Scottish Rite Paul R. Kach DeMolay Contest Winner
11th Grade and Above Category
Mountain Home Chapter Order of DeMolay
510 South 3rd East, Mountain Home, Idaho 83647

Is the modern education system preparing today's youth to be the leaders of the next generation?

"Lead by example." That should be told to the youth of today. But to do this, every young American must have the tools necessary to become a leader of the next generation.

From personal experience, I do not feel the modern education system prepared me for becoming a leader of the next generation. For instance, speech classes were not really helping me overcome my problems with speaking in public. Then I joined DeMolay. Being in DeMolay, not only as a Chapter member but also as a State Officer, gave me the opportunity to give speeches as well as organize events.

The leading groups of corporate America are telling colleges and universities that more emphasis needs to be placed on mathematics, science, and communication skills. High school provides a good foundation for preparing young people, but not all the tools are there. There is a gap between the skills a person needs to enter the work force and the skills schools are providing to our future leaders.

DeMolay gives young men those extra skills, and when you combine these abilities with the benefits of a college education, then you have the tools needed to excel. Because of the educational lag in developing efficient leaders, some corporations are providing leadership training for their employees. DeMolay starts this process earlier and gives every DeMolay an extra advantage when entering college and the professional workplace.

Being able to read is a vital part of becoming a leader of the next generation, yet many students in today's high schools are failing classes because they cannot read. Nor are they given enough group activities where they can learn to share ideas and experiences. As jobs become more technical, skills such as cooperation and communication in a variety of tasks are increasingly important.

If school councilors work with students when they are in the eighth or ninth grades, rather than their junior or senior years in high school, they can help to tailor a program for each student's individual future. If students are not taking the classes they need for their higher education, then the modern education system is failing. Students should be required to consult councilors during academic planning. Then they could make decisions that are more informed on what classes to take for their career choice and what activities, such as sports and student government, will build leadership skills like decision making, listening, organizing, speaking, writing, delegating, as well as problem solving.

With these skills in hand, a person can become an effective leader for tomorrow's world. If one is not organized, one cannot lead others because they will not readily follow a person who does not know what is going on. Also, the most effective leader can become overwhelmed if he or she does not have strong people to carry some of the load. That is where delegation is key to effective leadership.

The modern education system needs to give students more skills to become leaders of the next generation. Schools might be able to achieve this by encouraging students to become involved in community groups and extra-curricular activities. Also, practical classes such as "Listening," "Pressure Management," and "Consensus Building" would offer tools for leadership. DeMolay and other youth organizations should not have to fill in for an ineffective school system, but they can and should be beneficial supplements towards its whole enrichment.