WCHS class gets down to business

After writing about local business news for a little over three years, I've often been encouraged by hearing from readers about how much they enjoy my coverage. As a writer, it's sometimes easy to wonder if anyone is actually reading my work, so hearing positive feedback is always welcome. One thing I never expected to hear is that my columns have become a regular part of high school business curriculum.

I recently spoke to Warren County High School business teacher J.T. Morgan who told me he's been incorporating my business columns in his classes since he began teaching. Now in his second year at WCHS, J.T. began using the stories in his classes as a way to teach his students business concepts by approaching them from a local angle.

"I was a longtime reader of your weekly business column at your previous publication. When I was offered the business teaching position at the high school last year, one of my first thoughts was to incorporate that column into my classes," J.T. told me. "We thoroughly enjoyed reading it together each week and were disappointed to hear you weren’t being retained by that paper. We were thrilled when The Main Street Journal launched, and you continued your business coverage there. From day one of my time at the high school, local business columns have been part of my classroom."

J.T. feels it is important to go beyond textbooks in an attempt to localize things for students and to make the lessons more relatable.

"I’m a big believer in making learning interactive and giving my students real-world connections whenever possible. Using sources like The Journal allows us to discuss business concepts through examples of local companies that students recognize and interact with. It also helps them stay connected to their community and learn about areas and businesses they might not have known existed.

"I think Warren County as a whole takes great pride in our community, and the students at the high school are no different. One of my goals, beyond teaching the state business standards, is to help them become more aware of what’s happening in their own backyard. Young people need to understand local issues because the decisions being made today will directly affect their future here. For example, my classes followed and discussed the County Powers Act almost daily last April. The Journal has been a tremendous resource in helping students stay informed and engaged."

J.T. uses Biz Beat as a way to encourage his students to share their thoughts on local business moves and the soundness of projected business models. He also feels it encourages students to connect with and support local businesses.

"We have a daily journal assignment as a bell ringer where students read a Biz Beat article I’ve selected and write a journal entry reflecting on it," J.T. said. "They might discuss whether they think the business will be successful or respond to other prompts that connect to the article’s topic. Through Biz Beat, I’ve been able to introduce students to businesses they may not have otherwise heard of. Even if they aren’t directly patronizing those businesses, they’re often talking with their parents about them, and those conversations can lead to families supporting local products and services they might not have considered before."

To support J.T.'s efforts, Main Street Media has provided free subscriptions to the Main Street Journal for 44 high school students.

"I can speak for myself and my students in saying we are incredibly grateful to everyone at Main Street Media for sponsoring our business students with subscriptions that provide access to The Main Street Journal through the end of the school year," J.T. said. "Our community has always excelled at supporting our schools, and this is another great example of a local business investing in the future."

I'd like to thank J.T. for considering my column worthy of discussion in his classes, and for letting me know about it. That's a humbling thing to hear. And thanks to the students for reading and engaging with the column.

Until next time, the Beat goes on

To those of you not required by your teacher to read this column, I extend my appreciation to you too. Thanks as well to Ben Lomand Connect for sponsoring Biz Beat. Send your local business tips, questions and suggestions to seth.wright@mainstreetmedia.llc.