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Watch out Mayor Bill Dane, you could have some competition — in about 20 years.

Cody Blodgett spent the day collecting taxes and supervising a staff after a speech that won him the mayoral election. And he’s in fifth grade.

Blodgett was among the fifth-grade students from Southview Elementary School who took a field trip Thursday, Nov. 12, to the Blue Springs School of Economics. Students selected jobs, like a cook, and gave speeches to win elected positions, like mayor, for a hands-on crash course in the real world.

“I told the reasons why I would be a good mayor and what I would do as mayor,” Boldgett said about his speech.

The students earned “paychecks,” which they had to ration throughout the day for things like lunch.

“I learned it’s important to keep some money in savings and not go bankrupt,” Stratton Baird said, noting with the limited income he couldn’t buy everything he wanted.

Stratton said he needed to focus on needs first.

Noah Wermelskirchen’s job was bank president, a career he said he is now interested in. He had to organize the staff, sign off on loans, enter transactions into the books and calculate profits among other tasks.

“It was fun, but after all of it was done, I was pretty tired,” Wermelskirchen said.

But that’s what he liked about it.

“We didn’t just have to sit there the whole time; we had to be up moving,” Wermelskirchen said.

Hannah Doty was a cook and worked the cash register.

“It’s really important to make sure you have it right,” Doty said.

Amy Cordle, fifth-grade teacher, said some students held out for a late lunch when the price was reduced.

“It’s a simulation of immigrating to the United States and starting a budget,” Cordle said.

She said the students spent a month learning economics to prepare for the field trip. Several students said they learned about things like supply and demand, opportunity costs and managing their money.

“I like how active the students are and how it’s real-life experiences that help them learn these economic concepts,” Cordle said.

Going on the trip itself required budgeting; Parents Active With Southview paid for half of the trip, Cordle said.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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