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By Mary Holbrook
Much is changing in America, in our lives, and in the way we do business. Business owners and managers are demanding that educators teach students the basic skills and attitudes necessary for success in the workplace. Students are being challenged to make the right decisions regarding their education and behavior. In many cases, these decisions are being made without the assistance of positive role models from the business community. ACCESS Junior Achievement Programs are a vehicle which give business professionals a forum in the classroom to teach Rogue Valley students about business.
Organized by the Boston Chamber of Commerce over 80 years ago, Junior Achievement of America (JA) is dedicated to an idea: Make business and economics relevant to students, and increase the odds that, later in life, they will be productive, contributing members of society. Funded by business and foundations dedicated to economic education for youth, JA is available in grades K-12. A volunteer from the business community visits the classroom for one class period a week, for 5-12 weeks. The consultant leads the class in fun, action-packed activities designed by Junior Achievement which teach students about business. Students are inspired to value our free enterprise system, understand business and economics, and be workforce ready.
Locally, Junior Achievement is administered by ACCESS Inc., the Community Action Agency for Jackson and Klamath Counties. ACCESS is subsidizing program costs until JA can be fully funded by our business community. "ACCESS' mission is to help community members become more self-sufficient. JA's economic education programs fit right in with that goal," says Patty Claeys, ACCESS' Executive Director. "Children of all socio-economic backgrounds need to understand how our economic system works and what will be expected of them in the workplace. Without that knowledge, their ability to compete and succeed in the workforce is greatly diminished. Participating in JA is a win-win situation for business, schools, and students."
A JA Business Advisory Council has been formed and local businesses will contribute $30,000 to ACCESS Junior Achievement, reaching 2,500 Rogue Valley students during the 1997/98 school year.
Bear Creek Corporation, Comnet Marketing, Champions, and Pepsi, Inc are sponsoring nine, semester-long JA high school programs impacting over 300 local high school students this school year. With the guidance of business professionals, students operate their own student company and learn first-hand the complexities involved in owning and operating a business.
At the middle school level, consultants teach students everything from how to balance a checkbook to the economics of staying in school. The 1997/98 school year is the fourth year Bear Creek Rotary has brought JA programs to Talent Middle School students. Dain Rauscher, North Medford Rotary, Naumes Inc., Goodwill Industries, and Edward Jones Investments are sponsoring and providing classroom consultants for students at Hedrick and McLoughlin Middle Schools.
The fastest growing JA Programs target our elementary school children. Students learn about the role of business, and the link between education and their future success. Over 70 classroom consultants from a wide variety of industries are spending an hour a week for five weeks teaching 2,000 local elementary students about business and opportunities available to them if they stay in school. WP Natural Gas brought JA programs to all the 5th graders at its partner school, Griffin Creek Elementary. White City Community Improvement Association sponsors six JA programs every year for White City Elementary students
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Bruce Olson, State Farm Insurance Agency Field Consultant, says, "Throughout the country, State Farm Insurance is concerned about the future of youth in America, and their ultimate ability to join society as productive adults, knowledgeable consumers, and contributors in a meaningful way. Junior Achievement is a wonderful example of private enterprise, energetic volunteers, a proven curriculum, and youth working together to supplement the traditional learning experience."
JA is a powerful tool which helps teachers meet education reform mandates. Because JA is still relatively new to southern Oregon, only one-third of the demand from local schools for JA was met during the 1997/98 school year. If your company would like to "Teach Kids About Business" please contact Mary Holbrook, ACCESS Junior Achievement Department Manager, 541-779-6691.
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