Students at Oxford Elementary can now say they’re one step closer to contributing to the Michigan economy, thanks to the Junior Achievement (JA) program some classes have participated in.
JA Worldwide is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through hands-on programs and role-playing, according to their website.
The programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.
The hands-on activities come from local business leaders and parents who teach economics concepts to the students once a week for five weeks.
Last week, OES parent volunteer Dave Cutler led students in Kelly Dorman and Rachel Hart’s classes through an activity where a student became a business owner.
The first lesson was entitled ‘Three Forms of Business,? where student Drew Knox was the business owner of an auto workshop.
During the process, Cutler taught the class how Knox’s company expanded from a sole proprietorship to a partnership and eventually, more students got involved to form a corporation.
‘The students learned many key concepts in the hour-long lesson, ranging from goods and services all the way to profits, stocks and franchises,? Hart said.
This past Tuesday, Cutler talked to the students about what it takes to get a job ? from career paths they may be interested in, to what education they’ll need, to how to interview for a job.
Cutler runs a property management company in Lapeer called NuHorizon Properties and became a volunteer with JA, well, simply because his kids asked him to.
‘It’s been fun so far,? he said. ‘My wife and I get as involved with our three kids as they’ll let us.?
Other lessons Cutler will include will be on production, advertising and business resources. To find out more on how to become a Junior Achievement volunteer at a local school, contact your child’s teacher or visit their website at www.ja.org.