MICROSOCIETY News Archives Please view a list of our archived MICROSOCIETY news, articles, and magazines below. News Archives: 2009 Indian Trail students live, learn civics in MicroSociety With a school election over, students at Indian Trail Elementary School can hardly wait to see how their new community will take form. “Everyone is so excited,” said Kelly Davis, 9, a fourth-grader who was elected vice mayor of the school’s MicroSociety...  Read More >> Microsoft Visits the Boys and Girls Club of Renton/Skyway On day two of program implementation, the Boys and Girls Club of Renton/Skyway received two important visitors.  One was a board member; the other was an executive from Microsoft. While on the tour, the two women wanted to purchase something from the kids but they were told that they would have to go to the bank for a loan.  The bank had them fill out a loan application but turned down their loan because they didn't have a MicroSociety job and didn't appear to be a good risk.  Before she left, the visitor from Microsoft promised to help with in-kind donations. She was so blown away with what the kids were doing.  ON DAY 2!!! Eagle River Test Scores Rise! Since implementing the MicroSociety program, Principal Nicole Ertischek reports that Eagle River Elementary School in Wasilla, Alaska, has seen a dramatic rise test scores, so much so that the entire staff received a financial performance incentive. Congratulations! Read More >> Girls Inc. Partners with Free The Children Girls Inc of Sarasota, Florida is a local affiliate of the national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. It is also the home of Dream Harbor, their MicroSociety program. These young leaders created the Jill Project (so named because Jack already fell down) and raised $2,575 in Micro money to build a well in an Africa village. The girls have raised $2,000 in matching American dollars and the remaining sponsors are expected shortly. You may remember Girls Inc. Sarasota Executive Director, Stephania Feltz, from our MicroSociety annual conferences. Stephania can be reached through their website at www.girlsincsrq.org. Congratulations to Stephania and all of her young leaders! To learn more about Girls Inc nationally, check out their website at www.girlsinc.org. Teacher from Mid-Michigan receives grants from BEST BUY TEACH and Blue Cross Blue Shield Nancy Pearsall received a grant from BEST BUY TEACH Awards because her school is so effectively integrating technology into their Micro program.  It was for $2,000!!! Nancy also received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield for $10,000 to buy new PE equipment and update the playground. Their Micro is going well! Bank partnership offers elementary school students early lessons on saving and spending Hudsonville Bank, part of Hudson Elementary’s town-within-a-school concept, opened for business with a special ceremony featuring  music by the Hudson Coyote Band. Read More >> Starr Academy students gather real-world experience, Richmond, IN Croucher isn’t a seasoned businessman but he’s learning to talk and act like one. As a fifth-grader at the Elizabeth Starr Academy, Richmond Community Schools’ magnet program. He’s learning about leadership and entrepreneurship long before he will joint the work force. Read More >> Crossings Christian puts the MicroSociety program in place Civics courses have come alive for middle school students at northwest Oklahoma City’s Crossings Christian School. Read More >> Crossings Christian School students form MicroSociety Students apply classroom lessons to real world situations. Middle school students at Crossings Christian School recently formed City of Light, a MicroSociety program that helps bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application. Read More >> State superintendent visits Shreveport school, Shreveport, LA State Superintendent Paul Pastorek visited Oak Park MicroSociety Elementary in Shreveport this morning. Pastorek took a quick tour of the school and learned how it has progressed in recent years... Read More >> At Chocachatti Elementary, young candidates have their say on election day, Tampa Bay, FL The candidates were in the Chocachatti Elementary School cafeteria, attempting to convince their fellow students why they should vote for them... Read More >> Welcome to Kid-Run Renway, Renton, WA There’s a new city in South King County, and all its citizens are under 18. “It’s a kid-run city,â€� Meg Pitman explains. Pitman is executive director of the Renton/Skyway Boys & Girls Club. But she’s no longer the only executive at the club… Read More >> Teenager Michelle Alfonso is a medal-winning martial arts star in Spring Hill, Spring Hill, FL SPRING HILL - One of the star pupils for master Carlos Carasquillo is award-winning teenager Michelle Alfonso. Michelle, 16, has excelled at martial arts from the very beginning of her training three years ago. It all started when she was in eighth grade at Powell Middle School... Read More >> Students learn real life in Knightsville When the Knightsville bank realized it was going into debt, it began charging a withdrawal fee on all ATM transactions. The citizens revolted, wrote a petition, sent it to the mayor and, eventually, the fee was revoked. That’s how it works in a microsociety, said Juachita Terry, the microsociety site coordinator at Jacksonville Commons Middle School... Read More >> Teaching Life, Odessa, TX One classroom at Zavala Magnet appeared more like a zoo prior to spring break during Market Day, a special event held as part of the after-school MicroSociety magnet program... Read More >> Students get real-life lessons in magnet school’s MicroSociety, Amsterdam, NY Three afternoons each week, the school’s MicroDays, students spend about an hour working at their businesses, running the government, or keeping the peace. Once a month students get to spend their hard-earned micro dollars at Kid City businesses and attractions... Read More >> Students get real life lessons, Amsterdam, NY AMSTERDAM, N.Y. -- Meet Cassandra Robataille. She’s 10-years-old and is a student at the Barkley Magnet School in Amsterdam. Robataille is not just your typical fifth grader. She’s actually the first female president of the United States... Read More >> MicroSociety helps kids put skills into practice, Richmond, IN "I’ve got to go or I’ll be late for work." That’s something we’re not surprised to hear adults say, but a third-grader? Gwinn Gibbs, principal at Discovery School, wasn’t surprised at all. Students there, a MicroSociety school, take their responsibilities seriously."... Read More >> Money School, Tulsa, OK From spending money to earning it. Students at Thoreau Middle School are learning it all. "They have to earn salaries, pay taxes, pay overhead and rent," said Tom Padalino, Principal at TPS’s Thoreau Middle School. Three days a week the school turns into what’s called a "Microsociety." Students have jobs, days off, get tickets from CrimeStoppers and even go to court... Read More >> Inside this Elementary School, Students Face Life, Debt and Taxes, San Diego, CA The minimum wage has dropped. New citizens keep arriving in need of work. And the government is still struggling to craft a budget halfway into the year. Politicians chalk up their difficulties to one crucial thing... Read More >> Discovery, Starr Schools Merge as a MicroSociety, Richmond, IN Discovery, Starr will merge Officials hope move will boost enrollment in both programs. Discovery School will merge with Starr Elementary next fall to become the Elizabeth Starr Academy for Young Entrepreneurs... Read More >> Imagine to Build 2 Charter Schools in Indian River County, Vero Beach, FL INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Construction is expected to begin by the spring on the district’s two new elementary charter schools... Read More >> Caddo School Board Gets Details About State’s School Takeover Plan, Shreveport, LA The Caddo Parish School Board and concerned parents this evening were getting details about the state of Louisiana’s plans to take over two underperforming schools and improve academic offerings... Read More >> Micro Society Jonesboro Public School Educational Inauguration, Jonesboro, AR JONESBORO (KAIT) Millions of Americans-- both young and old-- gathered around their televisions and computers to watch history unfold. Read More >> Principal Deirdra McDowell-Sutton’s Influence Extends Far Beyond School Walls, Jacksonville, FL North Shore K-8 School has a new, state-of-the-art facility; a Micro Society Magnet allowing students to run their own "town" with a mayor, city council, judges and businesspeople... Read More >> 2008 Micro Society School Program a Big Success at Sam Houston Elementary, McAllen, TX Teachers and students at Sam Houston Elementary School can agree on one thing: “micro-societies” are a fun way to learn life skills such as responsibility and respect... Read More >> Alum Lowell Magnet School, Lowell, MA Alum still feel strong pull to defunct Lowell Magnet School. LOWELL -- The preamble to their constitution, ratified in 1982, began ... "We The Citizens of the City Magnet School, in order to form a more perfect micro-society, to establish fairness and ensure school peace ..." Read More >> San Diego, CA County’s 12 Comeback Campuses 12 comeback campuses in county taken off watch list. A dozen local schools received confirmation yesterday that they’ve beaten the odds..." Read More >> Tioga Middle School’s Micro Society, Fresno, CA Fresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- Starting up a new business in the current economic climate can be tough, but think about the challenge of opening two dozen under one roof!... Read More >> "How is this going to help me in the real world?":, Oklahoma City, OK Good teachers have always used many creative methods to stimulate academic minds and help boys and girls to learn. Still I wish I had a dime for every time I’ve heard a student lament to a teacher or a parent "...but how is learning this going to help me in the real world?"... Read More >> Henley Named Teacher of Year:, Jonesboro, AR THAYER -- A former Thayer resident has been named local favorite teacher by readers of the Jonesboro Sun newspaper.... Read More >> ’Aristocats’ Comes to Chocachatti:, Brooksville, FL BROOKSVILLE - Jazz is the universal language. Those are the memorable words spoken by an alley cat in Walt Disney’s "The Aristocats," and it’s a lesson learned and loved by local elementary school students at Brooksville’s Chocachatti Elementary... Read More >> Clayton, NJ Program Teaches Work Skills: Eleven-year-old Dallas Carey is an assistant manager at a restaurant. Adashia Gomez, 11, is a banker. Luke Apana, 9, is a health inspector... Read More >> Hudsonville Herald Has Official Grand Opening, Brownsville, TX “The Hudsonville Herald is on top of all these issues and events,” Hudsonville Mayor Vanessa Gonzalez told a grand-opening crowd on Thursday as Hudson Elementary officially welcomed the student newspaper to Hudsonville, the school’s microsociety... Read More >> After-School Program Awarded $10,000 Grant, Jacksonville, NC Eleven-year-old Dallas Carey is an assistant manager at a restaurant. Adashia Gomez, 11, is a banker. Luke Apana, 9, is a health inspector... Read More >> Charter School’s Director Honored By Organization, Chula Vista, CA Dr. Jorge Ramirez , director of the Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School, has received this year’s top honor nationally from a Philadelphia-based organization that helps schools create microcosms of the real world on campuses... Read More >>   [Back To Top] Older News Archives: Location Year Material Author/Publication Other NC 2008 Jacksonville Commons     NJ 2008 Clayton Teaches     FL 2007 St. Petersburg Times     OK 2007 Students Schooled in Real World Tulsa World   FL 2006 Life in Micro2 Life in Micro Ocala Home Magazine WA 2006 Educational Leadership     FL 2005 Delray Students to Learn from Jobs Paying Bills Cynthia Kopkowski, Palm Beach Post   FL 2005 Life in Micro Life in Micro Ocala  Charity Register MI 2005 A Different Way to Learn Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press   MI 2005 Myersville     NC 2005 PBS NC Now Shannon Vickery and Mitchell Lewis, UNC-TV   CA 2004 MicroSociety experiment  Experiment Emphasizes Learning by Doing   CT 2004 McDonough Celebrates 20 years as "mini-Lowell" Lowell Sun   CT 2004 Students Voice Election Concerns Penny Riordan, New Britain Herald   FL 2004 Students sworn-in by Sen. Paula Dockery Paul Quinlan, Hernando Today   IL 2004 Learning to Lead Veronica Gonzalez, Reflejos   MI 2004 MicroSociety Conference Hoon-Yung Hopgood, MI State Representative, The Hopgood Report   MI 2004 Pen Pals Corey Mitchell, The Saginaw News     2004 Business is Booming in Vance MicroSociety Penny Riordan, New Britain Herald     2004 George Richmond’s Reality 101 Doug Tsuruoka, Investor’s Business Daily     2004 Mock Community Real Education Tajuana Cheshier, The Jackson Sun     2004 Toledo’s MicroSociety Jason Koler, Toledo Area Parent News   AL 2003 Parents Appose Magnet Closing     FL 2003 ‘A’ For Effort Steven Ray Haberlin, Ocala Star Banner   FL 2003 Scale Sales Logan Neill, St. Petersburg Times   FL 2003 Small society big lessons Logan Neill, St. Petersburg Times   FL 2003 Students take their Microsociety to the Hill Logan Neill, St. Petersburg Times   PA 2003 Learning Citizenship Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio   PA 2003 Young Entrepreneurs: MicroSociety opens new world to students The Philadelphia Tribune   WA 2003 Talbot Pupils Run Their Own ‘City’ Under a Special Program La Monica Everett-Haynes, Seattle Post-Intelligencer     2003 A Real Education in Money       2003 Scholastic     CA 2002 The Daily Californian School Will Shut Doors in Response to Budget Cut   CT 2002 Hartford Courant School Gets Grant for MicroSociety Program   CT 2002 School Gets Grant For MicroSociety Program The Hartford Courant   DE 2002 Brandywine Review Life in a MicroSociety: Talley students learn real-world skills   FL 2002 Program gives Ocala students a lesson in reality Steven Ray Haberlin, The Gainesville Sun   NY 2002 School sets up ‘micro’ society Randi Weiner, The Journal News   OH 2002 MicroSociety Teaches Birmingham Students About the “Real” World Geneva J. Chapman, The Sojourner’s Truth   WA 2002 Taste of the Real World Paysha Stockton, The Seattle Times   FL 2001 First Lady Tours School’s Microsociety Robert King, St. Petersburg Times   FL 2001 School basks in statewide spotlight Robert King, St. Petersburg Times   MA 2001 McDonough celebrates 20 years as MicroSociety Stefanie Scarlett, The Sun   NY 2001 In a Society of Their Own Children Are Learning Jodi Wilgoren, The New York Times     2001 Microsociety program engages students at J. Colin English Elementary Tanya Somaroo, News-Press.com   CA 2000 Making Cents in School San Fran Chronicle    CA 2000 Making Cents of School Abby Cohn, San Fransisco Chronicle   FL 2000 ‘Microsociety’ expands to middle school Robert King, The St. Petersburg Times   FL 2000 Elementary students ready for business Elysa Batista, The Miami Herald     2000 Comprehensive School Change: Perspective of a Superintendent Libia Gil, Benchmarks: The Quarterly Newsletter of the National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform (NCCSR)   CA 1999 3 R's With a Payday Bay Area Focus   CA 1999 Building A Society San Jose Mercury   CA 1999 Governor's Wife Visits Madison San Leandro Daily Review   CA 1999 MicroSociety Day gives students a taste of life in newspaper world San Leandro Daily Review   CA 1999 Principal Has High Hopes for Madison San Leandro Daily Review   CA 1999 School Becomes Capital Hub for Education's Sake San Leandro Daily Review   CA 1999 School Offers Students Real Life lessons Oakland Tribune   CA 1999 The Berkley Voice Students to Create "society in a school"   FL 1999 New school new government Robert King, St. Petersburg Times   FL 1999 Rock Springs students form their own ‘city’ John Palmerini, The Apopka Chief   OK 1999 Practicing for life: Students learn by doing in MicroSociety Ginnie Graham, Tulsa World   TX 1999 School’s pretend town gives real-life lessons Cindy Ramirez, El Paso Times     1999 Building A Society: School introduces pupils to marketplace realities Dana Hull, San Jose Mercury News     1999 Get a job pay taxes—now that’s an education Lynn Lau, The Edmonton Journal     1999 Kids get a taste of the real world Barry Hanson, The Edmonton Examiner   CA 1998 Learning a Living in the East MicroSociety: Preparing Youth for the Real World   CA 1998 San Leandro Daily Review Kids Take Helm at Madison School   NC 1998 Lessons elicit fun in learning John Newsom, News & Record   NE 1998 Scores Attendance Rise in Mini-Society Rainbow Rowell, The Sunday World-Herald   PA 1998 School program gives taste of the real world Richard Jones, The Philadelphia Inquirer   TX 1998 MicroSociety showcases Sageland Debra Dominguez, El Paso Times   WY 1998 Kidd acquitted in mock trial Liz Phillips, The Sheridan Press     1998 There’s no welfare system in school’s ‘MicroSociety’ Julie Schoenherr, The Sioux City Journal.   PA 1997 This classroom is a MicroSociety David J. Foster, Northeast News Gleaner     1997 Elementaries benefit from ‘Micro Society’ Julie Schoenherr, The Sioux City Journal     1997 Microsociety is getting down to business Tom Waring, Northeast Times     1997 Richmond Academy Dedicates Micro-Society Ryan Wenger, The West End Connection     1997 West Middle’s MicroSociety welcomes program’s guru Julie Schoenherr, The Sioux City Journal   CA 1996 Real-World Education: Sherman Elementary’s Micro-Society Robin Brooks, San Diego Family Press   CA 1996 San Diego Tribune 1996 Mini-entrepreneurs thrive in school's MicroSociety   MD 1996 6th-graders learn firsthand what makes adult world go Marego Athans, The Baltimore Sun   PA 1996 Program brings business concepts into classroom Howard Kolus, The Daily News     1996 MicroSociety The Kappan Magazine   CA 1995 Money matters to kids Liz Harman, San Diego Business Journal   DC 1995 Business Day: Your Money With Stuart Varney CNN-TV     1995 Leadership and the Customer Revolution  Gary Heil, Tom Parker, and Rick Tate Foreword by Art Levitt, CEO, Hard Rock Café. Van Nostrand Reinhold   1995 Learning In and About the Real World Phi Delta Kappan   CA 1994 Their Future Is Now Uri Berliner, The San Diego Union-Tribune     1994 A Gem of Choice Educational Leadership     1994 Fujisankei Communications International Inc.  Makiko Wokabayashi     1994 Seoul Broadcasting System  Nora Choi Lee, Channel 2     1994 The Cronkite Report: Lessons for the Future The Discovery Channel     1994 Welcome to the Real World Family Life Magazine   Chile 1993 Programa Contacto Carmen Lopez, Channel 13   France 1993 Envoye’ Special: L’ecole de la Vic  France 2   Japan 1993 NHK Network   Sato Setsuko, East West T.V. Network, Channel 3     1993 A Class Act Kid City Magazine, A Sesame Street Publication     1993 Beyond 2000 Beyond 2000 International group, Discovery Channel     1993 It’s About Time: Reinventing Schools Teacher Magazine     1993 Micro-Society Schools: Learning in the ‘Real World’ Education Network’s: For Education     1993 Reinventing America’s Schools Time Chronicle 1992: The Year in Review     1993 School of Life: Students in ‘Micro-Society’ Prepare for the Real World  Teacher Magazine     1993 U.S. Correspondent  Philippe Costa, L’Express Magazine   NY 1992 The Micro-Society Moves Into Its New Capitalist Marketplace The New York Times, West Chester   NY 1992 World News Tonight: American Agenda Peter Jennings, ABC-TV   Russia 1992 America Illustrated for Russia        1992 ‘Micro-Society’ Schools Tackle Real-World Woes Julie A. Miller, Education Week Education Week, Volume XII, Number 13   1992 Can I Copy Your Homework—And Represent You in Court? Kevin Fedarko, Time Magazine   MA 1991 Iacocca: ‘The real action is with kids like you' The Sun   NY 1991 Learning in the Real World of a Boston School The New York Times     1991 A Real-World Model for America’s Schools George Richmond, The Wall Street Journal     1991 Schools create ‘microsocieties’ in classroom School Board News     1990 How the Micro-Society Concept Evolved Laurel Shaper Walters, Christian Science Monitor     1990 Learning in America Schools that Work PBS Special with Roger Mudd     1990 Micro-Society: Restructuring Schools So They Help Restructure Society Education Week     1990 The Micro-Society School   D.P. Hayes, S.E. Hogan, T.F. Malone, to appear in Restructuring for Inter-Disciplinary Curriculum, National Association of Secondary School Principals, John M. Jenkins, Editor [Publication pending]   1990 The School in Lowell The School Mirrors a Working World Laurel Shaper Walters, Christian Science Monitor     1990 The Student Incentive Plan Phi Delta Kappan   MA 1989 City Magnet School Dawn Fratangelo, WCVB-TV     1989 Learning by Doing Paul Solomon, McNeil/Lehrer News Hour     1989 The Future School: Is Lowell Pointing Us Toward Another Revolution? Phi Delta Kappan     1988 A School Where Everyone Shares Power R. Weintraub, Principal Magazine   MA 1987 Add lawsuits loans to reading writing Marjorie Howard, The Boston Herald     1986 City Magnet School Lowell Weintraub & Malone, Equity & Choice Magazine     1984 Education in and About the Real World Evans Clinchy, Equity & Choice Magazine     1984 Meaningful Participation and an Effective School: Students Parents and Teachers Run Their Own Micro-Society R. Weintraub, Equity & Choice Magazine   PA 1981 Schools Don’t Have to Use Conventional Methods Philadelphia Inquirer     1978 Employment or Development: Private and Public Responses to Youth Employment American Vocation Journal     1975 Micro-Economy: A Real Estate Simulation For The Elementary School Classroom  Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.     1974 The Society School: Students Organize A Model Society in School Teacher’s College Record Columbia University, May 1974, Vol. 75, No.4.   1973 The Micro-Society School: A Real World in Miniature  George Richmond, Harper & Row     1972 The Society School: An alternative to the Deschooled Society The Saturday Review     1972 The Society School: The Outside World Is In  Lillian Foster, The Saturday Review.   PA   The Saturday Early Show WPSG-TV CBS       TIME Magazine     [Back To Top] <<Click here for News