Every year our students do an exercise on living in Boise. They gather information related to cost of living: rent for a reasonable apartment, car insurance, food, utlities, car payment, etc.
Once an average has been computed we divide by a 40 hour work week. Without skiing at Bogus, shopping at the mall, eating out, MAYBE a cell-phone, and NO cable TV the amount last year (gross, hourly) is $12.00.
This exercise allows the students to see that without skills/education, their opportunities to earn a decent living are diminished.
This reality check stems from years of listening to teenagers tell me that after high school they will have a nice car, ski at Brundage, etc.
I am not a pessimist, but a realist. I WANT my students to have the things that they desire- I get frustrated when they cannot follow simple rules at Sheridan (no gum chewing, wear the school uniform correctly, for example) and they see themselves at some amazing job earning huge dollars.
If they cannot write a simple paragraph or follow simple instructions how will they comply with rules/demands of a high-paying job?
As you can see, I am frustrated...
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2 comments:
Greg, every year you get frustrated on this project. :)
Frustration won't help....I know, I feel like succumbing to frustration at times when I teach my at-risk students. I do a budgeting, life with only a high school degree, project with my economic students. But I know that what they learn in that activity touches some of the students in a way that pushes them toward more schooling after they graduate. It is an important lesson to learn at their age...keep doing it and trust that some students will learn the desired lesson from the activity.
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