Basic Aspects of the Issue

Youth

For youth that stay in the Westman area, issues of leadership roles for them and meaningful employment as new entrepreneurs emerge as issues. Preparation within the school system for life in Westman as young adults is of considerable for both those who continue their education here and those who move into the workforce.

The studies below give some basic information as to the situation at the turn of the century.

Rural Development Institute Research Studies

• "Rural Youth Leadership" -Richard Rounds
  This is one of a series of rural leadership studies started in 1991. These are:
  • Farm Women
  • Off Farm Employment (organizational involvement effect on lifestyle choices)
  • Characteristics of elected officials
  • Characteristics of Volunteer Community Leaders

  This is an annotated bibliography of 54 items on youth in rural leadership, and a survey of high school leaders to give an indication of where we are now, and the sorts of effective programs which would improve youth leadership. It is interesting that he notes that there is very little information on this subject, and that everyone assumes it is done but it is not. It is concerned with mobility of youth, training and later leadership involvement.

• "Youth Entreperneruship Programs" - David Hajesz and Richard Rounds
  With a change in the economic scene owing to globalization, the writers note that the key switch is from youth being "job takers" to "job makers". The problem is that there is a high need for support for young entrepreneurs. A variety of programs have sprung up to meet the need. Most of the 50 programs reviewed here are too young to make any meaningful assessment, so the analysis is mostly of the descriptive type.

  Several characteristics of the program are looked at:

  • availability of mentors
  • residency requirements
  • start-ups possible within the duration of the program
  • availability of loans
  • training sessions

  In a more general sense the study looks at:

  • focus and goals
  • target audience(s)
  • jurisdiction served
  • program length
  • funding support and cost

  Some recommendations appear at the end. It makes a good benchmark study of what is available.

• "A Rural -Urban Comparison of the Knowledge and Implementation of WHIMS Safety Regulations By Manitoba Science Teachers" - Barbara-Ellen Rice
  This study was to find out of there was a difference between rural and urban safety practice in implementing the high school science safety practices according to the new standards. It was done with a view to adequacy of rural-urban communication. Rural had a bit lower scores, but accidents in both rural and urban were not related to the safety standard's requirements. This was done at a time when these new standards came into force, and a considerable communications thrust was taking place to raise awareness about them.

• "Linkages Between Human Capital and Rural Development" - Ray D. Bollman.
  This study concludes that the main connection between Human Capital development and Rural Development is adequate nutrition for children up to age three and adequate nurturing. This linkage surpassed the dearth of university grads in rural areas in terms of significance.

• "Strategies for Restructuring Manitoba Secondary Schools" - Steve Britton
  Steve presses for better care for the 70% of non-post-secondary bound students in the light of globalization. He went to 15 schools across Canada that were restructuring and seen as doing so, and gives 15 portraits of options. Very good source re: educational change.

Other Resources