Bringing business into the class

Every available teacher and class is participating in the Junior Achievement programme this year, says Seamus Massey, principal of St Thomas's Junior School, Jobstown, Co Dublin. "And that's the single greatest thing I can say about it. Last year nine teachers and classes were involved. This year every class - other than junior infants who are too young - is participating."

Junior Achievement Ireland is a non-profit organisation established to forge links between classroom and business. For Jobstown, this meant students from nine classes took part in a six-week programme last year. Volunteers from local businesses and teachers were trained in the interactive programme. The volunteers shared their "real-life experiences" with the students.

Shauna McAuley's best memories of Junior Achievement centre around a visit to local company, Johnson and Johnson, and the party there. "We got sweets and they gave us a tour. They showed us where they were packaging stuff . . .it was good." Patricia Coleman, their visiting volunteer, and a marketing executive with Johnson and Johnson, was a big hit with Shauna's class.

Lots of voices piped up to explain that "she makes things . . . shampoo - and she makes ads for television." The class also talked about jobs during the programme - working in McDonalds, cleaning up the roads, dentistry, mechanics.

Massey explains that for many children the concept of working and being paid for work was novel. "They didn't think that policemen and binmen were paid," he says "The programme explained concepts such as employment and wages and that the money for paying public servants, such as policemen, came from taxes that other people paid."

Junior Achievement's first annual report was presented to Tanaiste Mary Harney at a reception in St Thomas's Junior School yesterday. Tony Ritchie, financial director of Smurfit Ireland and UK and chairman of Junior Achievement, pointed out that during the last school year 1,650 children had taken part in Junior Achievement enterprise education programme.

"This year we will have 3,000 children between the ages of five and 18 years taking part in programmes under 130 business volunteers," he said. Programmes last between six to 15 weeks. "This growth is made possible by the continuing support of leading Irish companies which provide the funding and the personnel to deliver the programmes."

The Junior Achievement movement was established in the United States in 1919 and went international in 1989. Ireland is now one of 100 countries involved. Each country uses the course materials provided by the American parent organisation.

"The packs are very good but a little Americanised," says teacher Fionnuala Wallace. "The extra reading and additional material was American but we were able to find Irish equivalents."

Companies or schools interested in Junior Achievement can contact Della Clancy, Junior Achievement Ireland, 54 Merrion Square, Dublin 2. Phone - (01) 661 3788