Miller and his wife Laurie were in Missoula for the unveiling of an after-school program that will teach middle-schoolers the ropes of running their own businesses.
The program, which will start at C.S. Porter Middle School in January, is the product of the Warren Miller Freedom Foundation, which Laurie Miller founded and runs.
“These are life skills that aren't taught as much as they should be at home and aren't taught as much as they should be in school,” said Laurie Miller, who fledged the entrepreneur program on Orcas Island, Wash., where she and Warren live.
The program was unveiled at Porter in conjunction with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, Missoula County Public Schools and the Flagship program, which provides after-school activities for children.
“If we hope to solve all the major problems in this world - and I'm still an optimist and think we can - we must continue to work together to provide our children a variety of learning opportunities,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch.
MCPS Superintendent Alex Apostle is fully behind the program, and said his district would look to expand it after the pilot phase at Porter.
The young entrepreneurship program runs 10 weeks and will teach business basics. Students get a quick overview of what it means to own a business, then dive right in, Laurie Miller said.
“We try to get them going that first week with what it means to provide customer service,” she said. “Once they get out and do something and make some money, everything we have to tell them starts to make more sense.”
The goal, Laurie Miller said, isn't to create a bunch of money-obsessed grade-schoolers.
“We talk a lot about ethical business, but it's really about problem-solving and learning to be independent,” she said.
Warren Miller said students will learn the basics of business, but they'll also learn to take care of themselves. He stressed that everyone ought to “tithe at least 10 percent” of their paychecks to themselves.
“You need to pay yourself first, and that way you're ready to deal with whatever comes,” said Miller, who built a filmmaking empire by first selling films he made of his friends skiing.
And on Tuesday, he told a few stories of children who've gotten involved in his wife's program.
Two girls on Orcas Island spent an afternoon baking “dog cookies,” then sold them at the island market.
“They made $500 and they learned something,” Miller said.
Another student got his start by delivering lunch to business owners. He charged $2 for the delivery and quickly had 20 customers.
“That's what entrepreneurship is, finding a need and filling it,” Miller said.
Rosie Buzzas, head of the Flagship program, said the program will start at Porter in January, with the idea of spreading to other middle schools over time. McCulloch said she'd then like to see the program spread statewide.
For now, Buzzas will look for business people willing to volunteer to teach the foundation's curriculum, which is already developed.
“We'll look to the university and the business community to help us get this thing rolling,” Buzzas said. “We know that it takes a community to help our kids succeed.”
Reporter Michael Moore can be reached at mmoore@missoulian.com.
For more information go to warrenmiller.org.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)