Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 26, 1991                   TAG: 9102260005
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: NF2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: TAMMY POOLE NEWSFUN EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JA PUPILS RUN BUSINESSES TO LEARN ABOUT OUR ECONOMY

This week's NewsFun includes some of the non-profit organization's activities, such as a find-the-word game and a picture to color.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia conducts weekly economic education programs for fourth- through 12-grade pupils. Last year more than 100 business people volunteered their time to be part of weekly classroom activities.

For example, programs for pupils in grades 4 through 6 involve organization, management, production and marketing, said Laurie McMahon, president of the organization.

"For instance, students fill out job applications to learn management skills," McMahon said. "In `Production,' a class divides into unit production and mass production in an assembly line. They take pens apart to see which way is faster. They also get to keep the pens."

Classes are taught by volunteers. Among them are business professionals and some college and high school students.

Classes for elementary school pupils are divided into four sessions. Classes for middle school pupils are divided into nine sessions.

Junior Achievement programs also are taught in high school as an elective, McMahon said.

In the middle school classes, pupils learn about personal finances, how to apply for a loan, information about taxes, and how to set up a budget.

"It's all activity-oriented," McMahon said. "It's not a lecture program."

One project on supply and demand involves candy bars. McMahon said the volunteer sells the pupils the last 12 candy bars on earth. The pupils are given play money, and bid on the candy. "The first candy bar doesn't cost too much, but by the time they get to the last one, the students are pooling their money just for one bite of candy," McMahon said.

McMahon said she has found that many pupils believe that our society is socialistic (where business is owned by the government). "These programs teach them that this isn't true, and that profit is OK. We tell them they wouldn't be wearing those Nike shoes if Nike did not make a profit on them," she said.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia has programs in 35 schools in seven districts. There are 130 business volunteers teaching, and 67 schoolteachers also are involved.

For more information on Junior Achievement or to volunteer, call 989-6392.