Students at the Dover Area Middle School participated in the Junior Achievement (JA) Biztown at the JA South Central Pennsylvania Building in York, PA. In preparation for stepping into a replica of the adult world, the students learned the skills necessary to run their business for six weeks prior to the event.
JA Biztown is a combination of in-class learning sessions and a simulated town students operate for a day. Before the day at the pretend town, students pick what job they want to be employed in. They then fill out a resume and complete an interview with staff members. Teachers place students in the job they believe is best fit for them based on their credentials. The people running for mayor and district attorney (DA) have to go through a more detailed process. Teacher Roger Pittman said, “When it comes to deciding the Mayor for Biztown, we let the students elect their mayor and district attorney for each group in sixth grade.”
He further explains, “Students who are interested in running for mayor or district attorney complete an ‘Intent to Run’ form letting me know they want to be placed on the election ballot.” After this, they campaign by making posters and giving speeches to try to get classmates to vote for them. Following Election Day, the student who has the most votes for either mayor or DA will fulfill that role on the day of Biztown.
The three sixth grade teams selected their own mayors and district attorneys. The mayors of Biztown were Peyton Harlacher, Ezra Rentzel and Yeray Serrano. The DA’s were Sienna Verbjar, Cruz James and Lauren Street. The mayor for each team was in charge of opening the town and making sure everything was operating as it should, and the DA worked in City Hall.
JA Biztown has played an important role in helping students develop necessary skills needed to thrive since 2001. Sixth grade teacher Jessica Border says, “Biztown teaches kids real-world skills like how to use a checking account, savings account and debit card. It also prepares them for getting a job by teaching them about job applications, resumes and the interview process.”
