Sixth-graders attend International Business 101

Deirdre Newman

COSTA MESA -- Twelve local executives dropped by an elementary school

Monday to teach sixth-graders the intricacies of global economics.

The 12 executives of various companies shared their expertise on

imports and exports, global geography, currency exchange and

international marketing with the Davis Elementary students.

While the executives got a chance to make a difference in the

community, the students got to learn about some of the opportunities that

await them in the business world.

“It’s important to open their minds to see all the different

possibilities of what they can do with their life,” said Joe Atchison,

president of Poly-Optical Products in Irvine. “Some of them have already

asked me about starting their own companies.”

Atchison and the other executives, who all belong to the American

Electronics Assn., started the day by talking business basics, asking

students to find out where the items in their backpacks came from.

Then the students divided into teams to brainstorm a product and a

country to sell their product to.

One group decided to sell computers because of their profitability,

while another decided to sell clothing to Egypt. Sam Strodel and her

group decided to sell soccer equipment to Brazil.

Teacher Greg Wotta said the international business assignments, which

were sponsored by Junior Achievement, are a little more challenging than

typical sixth-grade curriculum.

“It’s a sophisticated idea for sixth-graders, but it gives them a

really good idea of what it takes to get a product out and how much

they’re influenced” by foreign products, he said.

Many of the students said they enjoyed the opportunity to create their

own products and marketing strategies.

“I think it’s good because we learn different things about the world,”

Denise Rosello said.

But some students were turned off by the difficulty of some of the

activities.

“Sometimes, it’s confusing,” said Gina Decker, adding that she enjoyed

making the products.

Atchison acknowledged the challenging nature of the topic but said the

students did a great job with it.

“The kids are so eager to learn, so creative because they don’t have

the limitations that adults have,” Atchison said. “It’s invigorating to

hear their questions and answers.”