Fifth and sixth graders of Elsberry Middle School recently participated in an educational program through Junior Achievement. The students were citizens of JA BizTown, a mini village of businesses sponsored by real companies in the St. Louis area. The students had an opportunity to apply for jobs they were interested in, and then for a day they were the employees of that company.
The day started with students going to their perspective businesses and getting a preview of their jobs. Then they met for a town meeting with the mayor giving an address and the CEOs of each company making a short comment. Students then started their business day by waiting on customers, cashing their paychecks or carrying on other business transactions.
The day was very well planned and each student had many activities to do. Each person had his or her own bank account, and after paying payroll taxes and putting some money in a saving account, that person had to decide how to spend the rest of their money. This gave students an opportunity to use the skills they had learned in the classroom lessons prior to the event.
They were able to rent cell phones from AT&T, make song requests at K-JAR radio station, watch an interview on the local TV station or read a quote in the St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper printed that day. They could also buy products from the local merchants and have a snack at the restaurant. The event gave students an idea of what a real job is like.
A large number of parent and community members volunteered to act as facilitators in each business. The day was a huge success and students all remarked that they had a “great time.”
Preparation for the day was carried out by the fifth and sixth grade teachers who taught six weeks of lessons on check writing, money management and economics. The middle school principal, Kenny Youmans, and the counselor, Toni Wankel, were instrumental in bringing this innovative and nationally-acclaimed program to the students. Sixth grade teacher Dani Rockwell coordinated the volunteers and other details.
