ESCANABA - Sixth- and seventh-graders in Escanaba will participate in a pilot program this school year, learning about the real life workplace from local volunteers who will visit their classrooms.
The visits are part of a Junior Achievement (JA) program being organized by a group of community leaders in cooperation with school officials. The program is being launched in Escanaba with hopes of expanding to other schools throughout Delta County.
"Our core purpose is to inspire and prepare students to succeed in a global economy," said Jay Ediger, vice president of development for the Michigan Great Lakes district office. Ediger was in the Upper Peninsula last week, helping communities in the U.P. develop satellite JA programs.
"This is about real life folks coming into the school and sharing their business practices and experiences," he added.
The community leaders met with Ediger, brainstorming how to obtain funds and sponsorships to start a local JA program for sixth- and seventh-graders. Monies are needed for classroom and teacher materials.
JA materials correlate to state standards and benchmarks, Ediger explained, adding JA information is designed to be taught in conjunction with the class' regular curriculum.
According to Lisa Hegenbart, vice president of education for the JA district, the connection between the curriculum and the JA materials is what makes the program work so well for students. Weekly visits by volunteers and suggested hands-on activities in the JA packets enhance what students are learning in the classroom for a five-week period, she said.
Depending on the grade level, students learn about their families, communities, regions and nation in respect to financial planning, banking, careers, starting a business, the world marketplace and entrepreneurial skills.
Sixth-graders in Escanaba will learn about the global marketplace, which includes information on exporting and importing products. Seventh-graders will learn about American economics from a historical perspective including how business and technology have evolved over time, Hegenbart said.
Steve Martin, Escanaba Middle School principal, anticipates classrooms participating in the program will gain practical knowledge about life in the working world.
"I think one of our main goals is to bring real world life experiences into our classes," Martin said, adding the JA program is one such opportunity for students.
At the conclusion of the steering committee meeting, the group decided to make a list of businesses and organizations to approach for program funding, class sponsorships and classroom volunteers.
Fund-raising events will also be planned.
The JA program has learning units for grades kindergarten through 12th grade, Ediger explained. JA started in Michigan in 1919 as an after-school program. Since the 1980s, JA has been incorporated into the school day to enhance students' educational experience of the working world.
According to it's website, "JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs."
The program's core values are:
Belief in the boundless potential of young people
Commitment to the principles of market-based economics and entrepreneurship
Passion for what is done and honesty, integrity, and excellence in how it's done
Respect for the talents, creativity, perspectives, and backgrounds of all individuals
Belief in the power of partnership and collaboration
Conviction in the educational and motivational impact of relevant, hands-on learning