EDUCATING THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE

In ''What is Business's Social Compact?'' (January-February 1994), Ber nard Avishai examines the nature of business's social responsibility i n a competitive environment that has superseded Adam Smith's division of labor. The nature of work has undergone, and continues to undergo, a fundamental transformation. And, according to Avishai, in this new e conomy, learning organizations must become teaching organizations as w ell. Does business have an obligation not only to train its current em ployees but also to educate the workforce of the future? In this issue 's Perspectives section, nine experts consider Avishai's argument and examine the role of business in education. Some excerpts: ''The privat ization of education in order to achieve quality and performance will have to meet some basic criteria that may not lend themselves to a hig h profit margin.'' Richard Riley ''If business were to assume responsi bility for delivering education, it would lose its autonomy and weaken its position as an advocate for change.'' Diana Wyllie Rigden ''Anoth er kind of division of labor suggests itself: between work and nonwork . We might have to educate the workforce of the future with this dicho tomy in mind.'' Hans Decker ''Business can improve education if it sto ps throwing money at public schools and insists on their complete rest ructuring.'' Allyson Tucker