A dose of reality

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Last week, Grade 9 students at West Hants Middle School were given the opportunity to look into a crystal ball, so to speak, and take a glimpse at their futures as part of the national “Economics of Staying in School” program.

“Imagine moving out on your own right now with no help from family,” said West Hants Middle School Principal Michael Landry. “That’s the reality check this program gave students today.”

He says many middle school students are of the age where they have the option to stay in school or drop-out and get a job. The “Economics of Staying in School” program encourages local business leaders to volunteer and go back to school to deliver a crucial message to students about the importance of continued education.

Through role-playing, reality-based games and projects, facilitators take students on a journey from school to the world of work and show them just how important education is in realizing future goals.

Tie their future to education

“Students need to tie their future with the education they’re receiving now,” Landry said. “They may not know what they want or how to get it unless we help them.”

One project had students compile an ‘imaginary’ budget based on various career options and then broke it down to real-life cost of living. Students admitted the results drove home the reality of adult economics.

“You have to know how to manage money and get a good job if you want to have anything,” said student Stephanie Barker. She was in a group of three other girls who have their future careers are all mapped out. They dream of becoming cosmetologists, photographers, chefs and veterinarians.

The common denominator in realizing those goals, they learned, was education beyond high school. “It’s all about preparation and education,” said student Tara Brooks.

All four say they make enough money through babysitting to keep them in stylish accessories, but said the $5 an hour they charge wouldn’t buy many groceries.

“We usually spend everything we make on clothes right now,” said student Marcy Garland. “I definitely want to make more money when I grow up. If you have a good job, then it’s easier to budget.”

Increase the skill set

Jennifer Fisher, Branch Manager at RBC in Windsor, said the program hit home to students the need to increase their skill-set if they want an economically sound future. “With the role-play and budgets, we put them into the future and showed them that to find the right job and be financially sound you need a good education.”

She said some of the students ‘cheated’ and created a budget of $10,000 to cover expenses. But when they were given a ‘real’ budget, they found it more difficult to live with. “It really opens their minds to reality, especially when it comes to money,” Fisher said.

Landry said the school has been participating in the “Economics of Staying in School” program for years and the response from students is always positive. “They’ll still be talking about this in June.”

He said students often question the relevance of what they’re being taught in school and this program gives them something they can apply in the present. “The message is as clear and straightforward as it gets,” he said.