THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995                 TAG: 9503240155
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 18   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   95 lines

KIDS BANKING ON THEIR MONEY SKILLS STUDENTS ARE ``PAID'' FOR DOING THEIR SCHOOLWORK, THEN MUST PAY ``BILLS'' FOR DESKS AND PENCILS.

SOME FIFTH-GRADERS at Kempsville Elementary School are being paid for doing their schoolwork.

Through a new program called ``Kempsville Cash,'' Jodi Buller's math students are learning the basics of banking, while picking up some life skills. Students receive a paycheck every Friday for doing their work, but then have to write checks weekly for various ``bills'' - such as desk rental and pencil sharpening.

``We're teaching the kids responsibility and accountability,'' Buller said of this earning while learning concept. ``We're making it real for them.''

Anita Duke, a student-teacher from Old Dominion University, initiated the program earlier this month after the students received check-writing instruction from the Naval Air Federal Credit Union, one of Kempsville's Adopt-A-School partners.

``It kind of evolved from there,'' Duke said.

Every day, students use timecards to keep track of their credits and debits. Completing math, science and health work pays $1 per subject, but students can make $5 for bringing back signed papers the day they are due.

They also get paid for certain jobs. Every week, bankers get $5 and payroll clerks receive $3. They rotate so that everyone gets the chance to earn extra cash.

While the money is fake, the hard work is real for the students. ``When you give them work to do, there's no moaning and groaning,'' Duke said. ``They see it as an opportunity to make money.''

And students are cashing in on this concept. ``You want to make sure you do all your work so you can get the extra money,'' said Kim Rosander, 10. ``I think it's fun.''

On the debit side, there are some bills students can avoid and others they can't - just like the real world. While they must pay a desk rental fee of $1 per day, the children have the option of talking out of turn - which costs them $1 - or paying 25 cents for leaving trash on the floor.

Every Friday, Duke collects the filled-out time cards and writes paychecks to the students based on their credits, which averages between $15 and $20 per student. After depositing their pay, students have to write Duke, their employer and landlord, checks for their fees.

``We want to show them that school doesn't have to be rote memorization,'' Duke said. ``There are activities that can be fun and can relate to the real world. They are going to remember this because they are a part of it.''

All along, each student must maintain an account, complete with a statement to balance every two weeks.

Most of the fifth-graders admit this isn't as simple as it sounds. ``It's kind of easy to keep up with your money, but it's kind of hard to balance your checks,'' said Justin Jones, 10. ``I think it's a good experience because it's getting us ready for the real world out there.''

Saving cash has been equally as tough for some students.

They had a silent auction Thursday and students got to spend some of their ``Kempsville Cash'' on items donated by teachers, parents, administrators, the PTA and students. But they spent knowing that their end-of-the-unit pizza and movie party carries a $20 fee.

``Students have asked us to hide their money,'' Buller said. ``It's funny what kids will ask us to do.''

``We want them to be responsible citizens,'' Buller added. ``They are learning life skills that they are going to need forever.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by HOLLY WESTER

Marina Sizow looks a bit worried as she works to get all her

``bills'' paid.

Anita Duke, a student-teacher, writes out student ``paychecks'' for

work well done.

Fifth-grade teacher Jodi Buller helps Marina Sizow, 10, balance her

checkbook while Justin Jones, 10, looks on. ``We're teaching the

kids responsibility and accountability,'' Buller said. ``We're

making it real for them.''

KEMPSVILLE CASH

SOME THINGS THEY GET PAID FOR:

Journal written - 75 cents

Planner completed - 25 cents

Tests completed - $1.50

Messenger - 25 cents each message

SOME THINGS THEY GET CHARGED FOR:

Desk rental - $1 per day

Extra water and bathroom break - 25 cents

Leaving paper around desk - 25 cents

Sharpen pencil - 25 cents

Talking out of turn - $1

KEYWORDS: EDUCATION by CNB