[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE GRAND OPENING OF EXCHANGE CITY--NEW ORLEANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID VITTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the grand opening of 
Exchange City--New Orleans, which took place on November 5th, 2003 at 
the City Park Campus of Delgado Community College. Through the 
partnership of Junior Achievement and the Learning Exchange, every 
fifth grade student in a 12-parish area of Southeast Louisiana will 
have the opportunity to experience first-hand how our American free 
enterprise system works and the effects of the economy on their 
everyday lives.
  As the first Exchange City in Louisiana and the 18th Junior 
Achievement Exchange City in the United States, this 10,000 square foot 
indoor virtual city is equipped with sidewalks, a town square, a City 
Hall, and fourteen businesses. The Exchange City program includes a 
six-week curriculum covering English, Language Arts, Reading, 
Mathematics, Economics, Civics, and Data Analysis material. Fifth grade 
teachers will receive training on this curriculum and teach it to their 
students before their one-day visit to Exchange City.
  During their one-day trip to Exchange City, students will elect a 
judge and a mayor to preside over their city. They will apply for jobs, 
receive pay checks, and take out loans to run their businesses. 
Students will operate a broadcast center with radio and television 
stations and learn about paying utility bills.
  This innovative hands-on program is a wonderful opportunity for 
students in Southeast Louisiana to learn the importance of education. 
They will discover how the material they are learning in their 
classrooms directly applies to the real world. I commend Junior 
Achievement and all supporters of Exchange City--New Orleans for 
providing our children with such an outstanding and practical 
educational experience.

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