Kids in Charge Stories

  • High-Apple-Pie-In-The-Sky Hopes

    Seventh grader Hunter Eider thought big. Real big. But at the same time he knew that lofty goals must be achieved through small steps. Clearly evident when interviewed by the Renway Spectacle, “President Eider, we hear you are planning on running for a second term,” started Cara, their top (and toughest) columnist, “That’s unprecedented. You’d…

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  • Time To Shine

    Ariel didn’t know that she was in the market for a new job. It was the sparkle of the sequins and the persuasion of Sasha, a performer with Explosive Expressions, Wilson Middle School MicroSociety’s dance and theatre venture that told her so.    It all started at the café, Ariel and Sasha met there once…

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  • Government Was Her Destiny

    For the second time in a month, 5th grader Destiny was out of work.  And it wasn’t the recession. In fact the economy in Elizabeth Starr Entrepreneurial Academy’s MicroSociety was thriving. It wasn’t lack of opportunity either. The job posting website was chock full of open positions. It was Destiny’s mouth. She was a regular…

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  • 21st Century Skill: Teamwork

    It came as a surprise when Shania called an urgent meeting for her employees at the Science Museum of Natural Fun, the MicroSociety venture she managed at her Girls Inc. Sarasota after-school site. A nervous hush took over the workplace as worry filled the minds of the employees. In her time as manager, Shania had…

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  • Putting Sammy on a Pedestal

    “PAY YOUR TAXES, PEOPLE!” Third grader, Sammy, barked right in Kyle’s face. Even though Kyle was significantly taller and stronger and older. . . and the richest entrepreneur at Farrell Elementary MicroSociety School, Sammy persisted. “Do you hear me?” A few onlookers giggled nervously.   Mrs. Gallant, the facilitator of the agency, had seen enough…

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  • Viva Las Vegas: A Lesson in City Planning

     Behind every public park is a story of community. Garehime Heights Park in Las Vegas is no exception.     “We have a broken water fountain here,” reported 10-year old Tyler to the Las Vegas Department of Parks and Recreation, pacing the room, phone on his ear, as he awaited promise of action. Ty was…

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  • You Snooze, You Lose: Demand for Quality

     Malik had ended up in Ms. Earle’s office, AKA the unemployment office. AGAIN. It wasn’t the first time. This time his manager, third grader J.J., had let him go for lack of productivity. Malik was caught with his head on the counter of the keychain venture he worked for during Marketplace time at Joseph Keels…

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  • Adam Takes the Road Less Traveled

    A year ago, neither his teachers nor his mother would have believed that Adam, a 4th grader with autism, could have passed this test.   It started off like any other day, clinging to his trusty map as a guide, “taxi-ing” kindergartners around the Marketplace- all by himself. There was a time when Adam couldn’t…

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  • Student Entrepreneur Hires Not-So-Undercover Boss

    “You need to go to the manager or owner with that. I am an employee, just like you,” said the duct tape wallet maker. He wished everyone would stop coming to him with questions. But then again, he was the biggest, oldest, coolest, and by far, the most overqualified employee in the entire MicroSociety village. He…

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  • An Autism Breakthrough

    “Colby, I need you to start finding facts on the dangers of heating plastics,” Maya, the 4th grade manager of the Science Spot Laboratory, asked one of her top peer researchers. He nodded in agreement and started typing.   “Colby,” Becky started again, “Can you do that for me? The news has been all over this topic.” …

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