The business people may have been the only ones who weren’t surprised at the results of a study designed to determine what kind of training would help Lawrence students succeed in technical fields.

What the survey conducted for the school district’s Administrative Task Force on Technical Education found is that companies aren’t looking for employees with additional technical training. They’re willing to provide that training on the job.

What the companies want — and apparently are having more trouble finding — are people with a basic concept of what work is all about, people who know how to show up on time, with a positive attitude and an ability to solve problems.

It sounds simple enough, but it’s likely that providing an attitude adjustment for local students will be a lot more difficult than providing advanced technical training. It’s a lot easier, but apparently less valuable, to teach students a new computer application than to make them understand the importance of getting to work on time.

A top school district official admitted being surprised at the survey results, which he expected to show “resounding interest” in establishing a technical training center in the county. But the 199 businesses said what they really need — thanks for asking — are employees with improved “soft skills,” things like attitude, work ethic, knowing how to prepare a resume and apply for a job.

Where do young people learn those skills? A relative or family friend may be around to talk a teenager through his or her first job application and interview. They may even be able to model positive employee behavior, like being on time, well rested and ready to work. So why isn’t the message getting through?

The there’s-no-wrong-way-to-do-it approach to education — and many other facets of society — comes to mind. When teachers are lenient about when assignments are turned in, does it teach children that being on time doesn’t matter? When “creative” spelling and work that produces the wrong answers still result in satisfactory grades, do students learn the importance of doing work as they were instructed to do it?

When parents give in and perform the tasks they had assigned to their children, do the children simply learn that it pays not to be responsible and, perhaps even more important, that someone else always will solve whatever problems they face?

University student services officials report that it’s a myth that today’s students are more mature than they were a generation or so ago. Today’s students have traveled more and been exposed to more things, they say, but when it comes to solving problems or being responsible for day-to-day life, they are way behind.

The employer survey undoubtedly will provide fodder for numerous discussions among local educators. Hopefully, they will find strategies to help prepare students to cope with the basic responsibilities of work and life. As the local businesses pointed out, there’s nothing more important to our youngsters’ future success.