I teach 12th grade high school economics in an area where crime, poverty, and bankruptcy are issues that all of my students and their families face.
Economics class is usually perceived as dry and boring with no clear connection as to why this stuff really matters (think Ferris Bueller). The reality is that economics is a big part of our everyday lives. Imagine if more people in this country were financially and economically literate; this country would be a very different place. With regards to my students specifically, I want them to have an understanding of what is going on in the city around them and how they can be a productive member of the economy. Why is there such a high rate of bankruptcy in this city? Why is it so hard to get a job? Why are there so many abandoned buildings downtown? If my students can answer these and other questions they will have a better understanding of their surroundings and be able to make good financial decisions which could help them break the cycle of poverty.
The solution is simple; I need to be able to make economics come alive for my students. With an LCD projector I will be able to make my lectures more lively and applicable by using news segments, speeches from politicians, live stock updates, and vivid visuals. I will also be able to streamline the learning process and give my students more time to apply what they are learning to the situations they see and face. On top of this, my final project involves my students' analyzing economic indicators and presenting their monetary policy advice to the Federal Open Market Committee. Imagine what these presentations could look like with visuals, charts, and graphs that my students have created on their own. This is all possible if they have access to an LCD projector.
Your help will ensure that my students understand the economy and their role in it. They will be able to see economics in action and make good financial decisions that will set them up to break the cycle of poverty. I don't want my students to accept the life that many of their peers and family members have accepted. I want them to be productive members of the economy who can help make long term changes for their city and the people who live here.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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