Second-graders at Beech Hill Elementary School appear to be immune from the reeling economy.
Recently, the school held their annual Market Day for second-graders – an event in which hundreds of dollars exchanged hands between buyers and sellers.
“The kids are learning about the economic system including supply and demand,” said Principal Rene Harris. “They had to create a marketing plan and today they are selling their wares.”
With fists full of Beech Hill School dollars, which the students earned from teachers and administrators by meeting behavioral and academic expectations, the excited children scattered throughout the school’s cafeteria to see what their fellow students, who were set up as vendors, were selling.
The buyers came to the market prepared as each student brought a shopping bag, which although empty when they arrived at the market, were filled with products such as toy cars, beaded necklaces and bookmarks by the time the students had spent their cash.
Some of the children elected to forego toys and jewelry and instead opted to purchase artwork, such as drawings, that their classmates had made.
Other students decided to become artwork.
For one Beech Hill School dollar, a student could have his or her entire face painted by student Hunter Cushman. Like a veteran salesperson, Cushman knew that customers have different preferences so he brought more than one dozen colors of paint to make sure that buyers could have their faces painted the favorite color of their choice.
Vendors advertised their good or service with poster boards that featured clever slogans and eye-catching designs.
All of the second-graders had the opportunity to be both sellers and buyers so that by the event’s conclusion, the students, who although now broke, carried with them an assortment of new goods and a better understanding of how the country’s economy works.

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com