by KATIE BLATZER
Special to the Hays Free Press
Don’t tell the fifth grade students at Tom Green Elementary that the economy is in freefall.
With the help of the Texas State Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program, the fifth graders have opened a school store selling products to their fellow students, earning $860 in profits in just three weeks.
“The kids are definitely huge contributors to the success of their store because they get to know what it feels like to own a business,” said Katie Blatzer, Texas State SIFE student. “They love to get involved.”
The students are selling products ranging from $.25 to $1.50 from Oriental Trading Company. The students work to apply the principles they learn each Monday in class to the stores each Friday, and also can connect to their fellow students to find out what they want to buy.
The program is a part of Free Enterprise City, a five-week project that teaches the students concepts of free enterprise and economics. The final event, also called Free Enterprise City, will be held on April 30, 2010 for third through fifth grade students.
