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For Real...Jun 01, 2011 (Grayson County News-Gazette - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When you add up how much money comes in and how much it takes to pay the bills people are sometimes left with a "reality check." That is exactly what Grayson County Middle School students got when they participated in the annual Reality Store last week. The goal of the Reality Store is to help eighth-grade students at the middle school see what life is really like and help them make the necessary changes in life-goals while there is still time. The program has been in the middle school since 1999, each year giving the students a hard look at life outside high school. "We do this so the eighth-graders going into high school are given a look into the life of an adult with the monthly bills that need to be paid each month," said Grayson County 4-H Agent Kindra Ewing Jones. "They get a hard look at the way things are and hopefully take education a little more seriously as they go through high school." There were a few new changes to this year's program. "This year we geared everything to what the student would make right out of high school with no college or technical training," said Ewing Jones. "The salaries were a lot less and hopefully that will make more of them take their education a little more seriously." Next the family size is selected; the student may be single or married and have up to two children. Then the money starts to be subtracted. The first thing deducted from the imaginary salary is the necessary taxes. Another new twist to this year's Reality Store was the use of monopoly money verses a debit card. "We thought by giving the kids actual money instead of a credit card it would hurt a little more to turn it loose," said Faye Critchelow, director of the Leitchfield Family Resource and Youth Service Center. " The students are then given the remainder of the money to provide for their families for one month. They must provide housing, buy groceries, clothing, transportation, and medical expenses as part of the exercise. They must decide if the Internet and cell phones are necessary and must add those expenses into the budget. Each teen draws chance cards, where they may receive extra money such as a birthday gift, or something bad like a child falling out of a tree with a $200 hospital bill which must be paid. This program is a cooperative effort between the Chamber of Commerce, the Grayson County Extension Office, Community Education and the Family Resource Center serving the middle school. "We offer our eighth-grade students a mock financial experience of life in the real world where they learn how to budget and make decisions based on the career and family scenarios they have been assigned," said Chamber President Caryn Lewis. "The support of our wonderful volunteers each year has strongly contributed to the success of the program, and we are hoping we can count on those people once again." Critchelow said the students were just getting out of high school and their monthly salary reflects that. Eighth-grader Brittney Russell felt the experience was a positive one for her. "This shows us how hard life (moneywise) will be if we do not go to college," said Russell. "After this I will definitely go to college and do something with my life." One unnamed eighth-grader told his friend about having money left over and that he had purchased a cell phone. Upon reaching the next table he was offered health insurance for his child. He paused a moment to consider it then said, "Umm, nah, I will pass." Several minutes were spent telling him about unexpected medical bills and the cost that could affect his household if he did not have medical insurance and the child became ill. It was only after it was explained that the insurance did not cost anything extra that he agreed. Eighth-grader Johnny Nunn felt the experience helped him to see how important it is to manage money. " I am definitely going to school and getting a better job," said Nunn. To see more of the Grayson County News-Gazette, go to http://www.gcnewsgazette.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Grayson County News-Gazette, Leitchfield, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |