A thousand dollar paycheck doesn’t go very far.
That was the first lesson one Springer Middle School eighth-grader took away from the CHOICES program her school recently offered to all of its eighth-grade students.
The exercise was designed to show how choices students make now affect their futures. The student, participating in a game scenario, chose not to continue her education in college and go straight into the working world. She received her first “paycheck” and then began budgeting expenses, such as rent and bus fare. It didn’t take long before what had seemed like and endless amount of money ran out – before covering all of the expenses.
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Numbers to know 12 the number of schools Delaware BIE Alliance will visit this year for CHOICES |
The Brandywine School District middle school is one of 12 in the state offering the CHOICES program, a nationwide program offered in the First State by the Delaware Business Industry Education (BIE) Alliance. The program is designed to help eighth-graders understand that their decisions have consequences. The program, taught by business leaders from the community, also stresses the exercise of self-discipline with education, career planning and time and money management.
“Because it’s so interactive, it taps into various learning syles for the kids,” said Andrea Majewski, the CHOICES Program coordinator. “The outside influence really makes an impact on them. They say things like, ‘He was real with us.’ They have credibility with the kids because there are community members.”
Springer students took the 90-minute class during their language arts period on Jan. 5. Classes listened to speakers talk about their own education and career experiences or played games requiring them to deal with real-life decision making.
Kelly Messner, a DuPont chemist, played games with the students about the decisions in life they have control over and how to practice good money management.
“I definitely think it’s beneficial,” Messner said. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years and I’ve never had an experience where no one participated. I think most of them get something out of it.”
Springer teacher Kathleen Gilbert said she belives the volunteers have a positive impact on the students, who really enjoy learning about real life choices.
“I believe that the visit from outside community members is beneficial because they are another voice, other than ‘just mom, dad or a teacher nagging at me again,’ telling them how important education is and that their decisions always have consequences – that decisions today may affect their life far into the future,” she said. “This is my sixth or seventh year doing this and the students’ only complaint, usually, is that there is not enough time to hear everything the speakers have to offer.”
For more information or to volunteer, visit the website at bie.k12.de.us or contact Andrea Majewski, BIE Alliance, 226 West Park Place, Suite 2, Newark, DE 19711; call 302-368-4372 or email amajewski@bie.k12.de.us.
