FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, the Kennedy Library has offered a program for high school juniors and seniors entitled Setting National Priorities: A Budget Simulation. The goal of this program, held in February and March, is to bring students together from different communities in New England to consider how our nation’s priorities are established through decision-making about the national budget.
In this simulation, students role play economic advisers to the President. Working in small groups comprised of students from different schools, they set priorities for their administration by reviewing the current list of programs that need funding, and deciding how much to invest in each program. They also decide whether to have a balanced budget—or whether they are comfortable running a budget deficit to support their priorities. Through this on-site program and pre- and post-classroom activities, students not only gain a better understanding of economics, but also get an opportunity to discuss and consider the issues that are important to their peers from other communities.
After the students have created their budgets in small groups, they reconvene with the other groups to discuss the rationales for their decisions. Twenty-four schools, represented by 831 students attended this year’s programs. Participating schools included Algonquin Regional High School, English High School, Lynn Classical High School, Malden Catholic High School, Plymouth North High School, and Wayland High School.