The Reality School They’Re Voting
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real world and operate it.” Students are also taught something everyone should know before they graduate from high school. The importance of a good credit rating. “It will all be based on credit scores, just like real-life. If you have a bad credit score, you’ll never get a job in a bank. People need to learn to be accountable and just like in life, if you have a good credit score, more opportunities will be open to you,” says Hensel. “If someone has a bad credit score, they can get a job in the village, pay their house, power and water bills on time, and work to get their credit score up.” There won’t be much time spent in class- rooms. The students will learn by doing. They learn the process of purchasing a home, serving on jury duty, becoming an employee at any one of the businesses to learn banking, construction work, handling money as a cashier, or ordering supplies. They can also purchase any business from another student who’s ready to move on and try something new. In doing so, they learn Blue Creek Retreat Photo supplied by Blue Creek Retreat the paperwork involved in making an offer, title So a tourist family could stay in an authen- searches, interest and taking out a loan from the tic Scottish home, eat food and town bank. listen to music from the High- “Counselors will monitor how stu- lands. There will be informa- dents are running their business. Are tional movies about that coun- they making money or losing it?” said try available to them. The next Hensel. day they can move to an Italian In selling their property or busi- home and learn that culture. ness, they’ll learn to have their taxes, “We’re hoping to develop and profit and loss statements ready to an exchange program to allow show the seller. They’ll deal with the someone from each country town realtor and find out about com- to come and teach their local missions and learn about closing the culture and customs,” Hensel deal. adds. “Each student will take a turn in police and fire departments, serve jury duty and play exact rolls in city hall,” said Hensel. “That way they really know what’s going on when The Reality School they’re voting. They’ll understand trials, pros- The Greenhouse across the pond. Continued on next Page The other side of this coin is a reality school. Students who want a hands-on learning experi- ence will be trained to be good employees, good employers and productive citizens. By the time they graduate, most students will be qualified to run their own business. “Reality School is about teaching life skills,” said Hensel. “To do that, you have to put students in a real situation--you can’t do it entirely from a text book. You have to be involved, and one of the only ways you can do it, is in a controlled atmosphere that mimics real-life.” Students ages 18 and up will work side-by- side with real craftsmen--business/professional and retired individuals who have lived the life successfully. “The students will come here and buy a cot- tage instead of moving into a dorm. They’ll have to get a job in the town for 50 percent of the time, and run their own business 50 percent of the time,” said Hensel. “So they can see what it’s like on both sides. When they graduate, instead of throwing their hats in the air, hollering and screaming, then wondering what they’re going to do, they’ll be ready to take their business into the The Greenhouse Photo supplied by Blue Creek Retreat 31 create knowledgeable business owners and qualified employees. That’s why the students have to work, be- cause if you’ve never worked, you won’t make a good boss.” “Right now it’s an idea. We’re shooting for 900 residences and 300 hotel/student units if we can get the funding and people are interested,” said Hensel. “Real- ity school gives students who want to gain the confi- dence, and experience necessary to become self-suffi- cient the know-how.” For more information on the project call 406-847- 6677 or go to www.realityschool.org. Building Designs by NW Properties 253-350-3874, and building con- struction by K2 Construction 406-847-4444. Dining Hall in the Blue Creek Retreat. Photo supplied by Blue Creek Retreat and court reporters. When they leave here they’ll know all this stuff because they’ve actually done it.” The Instructors +2(.+2 The teachers will be retired, or not yet retired people from all walks &OR of life, policemen, housewives, doc- tors, bankers, or construction workers who want to teach others what they’ve learned. “This will be a place for mature people to come and feel valuable, be- WITHHOST*ONNY+NIGHT cause they are. It’s a place where the instructors believe service is a gift and that by sharing their knowledge, they can help shape tomorrows leaders. Many have so much wisdom to give and this is the place they can use their talents,” said Hensel. It could be a chef or former res- taurant owner who will teach not only how to cook, but how to plan for a big crowd, order the proper ingredients, deal with suppliers, keep the books, run the cash register, clean up at night, and deal with customers. Working a stint at one of the restaurants in the 9OURHOMETOWN village will teach you everything you )NTHE"ONNER-ALL need to know about real cooking--be- fore mac & cheese came in a 4x7 box. The goal of Reality School is to give people the life skills to realize their dreams. The people who gradu- ate from this program will know how to buy a home. They’ll be a valuable asset to any business or even run their own business. “If a student buys a bakery and it’s worth $30,000 when he buys it,” says Hensel, “but over several years he’s made that business worth $50,000, he’s going to realize that profit and have $20,000 cash that he can use to start his business when he graduates.” But not everyone is cut out to, or wants to run a business. “The goal of Reality School is to &BTU-BLF4USFFU 32 www.nilifestyle.com NEW LISTING! Exclusive waterfront acreage. Pristine Spring Creek flows through this lovely level meadow. 8 acres surrounded by beautiful mountain views. Extremely private with gated entrance just 2.5 miles from HWY 200. Lot 2 of Misty Meadows. Power and phone to lot line. MLS#2063391 Beautiful 1 acre lots! $149,900. Prime building lots in Bonners Ferry. Largely treed 1 acre lots that are private, but less than a mile to town. Power, phone, natural gas and water to property! County maintained road fronts the property. 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