The Citizen chronicles the final day of the county’s smallest
economy

The Kindergarten Hall at Morgan County Primary School transformed last week into Main Street, as the smallest of the county’s students got their first lesson in economics.

The school’s annual Tiny Town exercise was a demonstration in spending, saving and earning, and taught students what goes into running a business.

The more than 10 classrooms on the Kindergarten Hall became varying student-run shops. There was the Tiny Town Fitness Center, the Madison Moo Ice Cream Shop, Miss Ellen’s Nature Shoppe, Under the Sea at MCPS (complete with bubbles), the Morgan County Primary Theater, Around the Corner Book Stand, the Panda Shave Shop and Nail Salon, The Dollar Store, Panda Shots Photography, a card shop, a sweet shop, and (the Citizen’s favorite) the Disco Soda Shop, “where you can dance and have drinks and snacks,” according to 5-year-old C.J. Charles.

A week prior to the event, students earned “money” to use at Tiny Town through their good behavior. Kindergarteners were required to work at their respective stores a bit, but also went out and spent their hard-earned “money” at the stores of their choosing.

Each day, when the stores closed, classes would sit down and count the money their store earned, pay that day’s workers and hand out bonuses to those students who did the best job.

Tiny Town meant lessons in math, economics and, well, customer service—most every visit ended with a “Have a nice day!” echoing the hall.

Printed in the March 17th, 2011 edition.