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Show The Enterprise Review , December IS, 1976 Page 8b Teach, Dont Preach Economics? Capitalism is getting a shot in the arm as educators and business people launch vigorous education cam- paigns to counteract what they see as a prevalent anti-busine- mood in the ss nation. Across the country the Advertising Council, chambers of commerce and company managers are producing and distributing a myriad of pro- teachers, and information packages to illustrate the grams benefits of the free enterprise systems to everyone, from employers to kindergarteners. In Utah, 400 teachers have learned how to teach economics in elementary school, from .kindergarten through grade 6. And the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce has established a Image of Business Committee to initiate and support economic education programs in companies as well as schools. Utah teachers are themselves being educated by Dr. Marilyn Kourilsky, who holds the Willard Eccles Chair of Economics at Weber State College. Dr. Kourilsky came to Utah a year and a half ago from the University of California at Los Angeles where she is a professor of economics education. She has developed a program 35-mem- called for children from kindergarten through second grade, Kinder-Econom- y, and she helps teachers of grades 3 through 6 develop economic concepts for their students. Dr. Kourilsky's education theories are based on the idea that the classroom is a Within that society, teachers help students understand the role of an economic system. mini-societ- y. Mini-Socie- Her ty programs are founded on what she calls instruc- experience-base- d tion, where the classroom acts as a Within that society, students develop the economic system of their choice. I am of the strong that economic educaopinion tion wont get off the ground mini-societ- y. with indoctrination, Dr. Kourilsky says. She adds people who want to preach free enterprise rather than teach economics disagree with her. We create a market economy within the classroom, she explains. "Students learn the characteristics of an economic system. We have found that 92 percent of the classrooms using this program choose the system free-enterpri- over se other economic she states. Other alternatives available to students include a collective systems, economy, a master-plannin- g method of income distribu tion and a lottery system. Kinder-Econom- When children study most social studies texts, they learn how to make decisions, but they dont face the consequences of those decisions. In this method, they actually experience the consequences in the classroom, she continues. The economics education program for older children has been actively taught in 28 states for over five years, she estimates, and has been used in Utah schools for three years. The is y y newer. "The program for older children is The beyond simulation. children do not think they are playing a game, they actually operate within the system they create, she explains. y The Mini-Societ- Kinder-Econom- g is a program, allowing children to simulate an economic condition for a short time, she says. game-playin- Chambers Active Beyond economics edu cation in the elementary classroom, the countrys chambers of commerce are producing information pack- ages containing stickers, brochures, envelope stuffers and editorials for employee In addition, newsletters. many, large companies are offering scholarships for classes in business and their executives are offering to speak at public meetings. In Salt Lake, the Area Chamber of Commerce Image of Business Committee has convinced school . district superintendents to offer classes in economics, and has provided film strips, movies, books and speakers to aid teachers. The committee has submitted a $9,000 budget for this fiscal year (plus a substantial amount of donated time, materials and effort) to support a vigorous advertising campaign. It has produced a package of promotional materials and has plans to sponsor seminars for employers, to help them Continued on page 10b Free booklet answers yorar questions FM radio. abont two-wa- y y radio Theres a lot of talk about these days, and maybe youve wondered what the talk is all about. Did you know that 3 two-wa- vehicles can do the work of 4 without? Do you know the difference between FM business Citizens Band (CB) and two-wa- y radio? What do you know about licensing? Do you have questions about cost? This booklet has the answers to most of the commonly-aske- d questions. Its yours free for sending in the coupon. radio-equippe- d 16-pa- ge |