JA promotes financial literacy

To the editor:

Several years ago, my husband and I owned a business and employed part time help over the 12 years. Numerous applicants were unable to compute a simple 10 percent discount on sale items, and when ask their life goals, they had none. The last 10 years I have taught Junior Achievement Economic for Success to Shawano Community Middle School students. Budgets, goals and importance of education for their career plans are emphasized. none of these topics are taught in the regular curriculum. After six weeks, each students is asked to come to the front of the class and share the one item they learned. Eighty percent of the time, students said they learned what a budget is and how to use it. I believe these are vital skills to their success in their life and career.

The Wolf River Area Junior Achievement program teaches these topics and has enjoyed great support and success from the community since we all began to pull together in this effort here many years ago. However, there still are many local citizens unfamiliar with its programs, initiatives and goals.

The local district is comprised of Shawano and Menominee counties, including the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and is one of 12 Junior Achievement of Wisconsin districts. It is also part of the national Junior Achievement USA program. JA works to find local volunteers that go into the area classrooms with an established curriculum of interactive training materials unique to each grade level. Its purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the local economy.

JA programs also teach students financial literacy skills, such as budgeting, so they can manages their finances and make smart choices throughout their careers and lives.

These key initiatives are not required to be a part of the regular school curriculum and are a valuable resource for educators.

Just this past 2018-19 school year, Wolf River Area JA provided 131 programs in 14 schools, reached 2,536 students, partnered with 95 teachers, worked with 144 volunteers representing more than 50 local businesses, provided students with more than 12,500 hours of mentorship and learning and awarded a total of $5,250 in scholarships to seven local students.

The Wolf River Area JA annual fund drive has begun. We ask you to consider donating your time, talents and/or resources in support of our 2019-19 programming to reach at least 2,650 students in 14 area schools. We believe that Junior Achievement provides vitally important programs to better prepare students so that they are able to own their success in the local community and the global economy.

Karen Palmer, Shawano