So we are in the human resource management class on Monday. I had just finished the second module on unions so the kids will have some kind of clue on managing in that environment. We had also reviewed a copy of a contract I had so they could see how wages, hours, and conditions of employment are spelled out in great detail, not to mention the responsibilities of management.
We then went through the worksheet that is assigned them for each chapter. I explained this in an earlier post; essentially the kids trade worksheets and we go over and grade them and I have commentary on key aspects of the assignment. The kids looked like zombies going through the grading and commentary no matter how excited I was about the topic of unions.
We had about 20 minutes left in class and a student raised her hand to ask a question about the second exam the class is take over 8 chapters of worksheets. She said that she heard that the last class did not have to take the second exam and wondering if this class could be excused from taking it, too. And THAT WAS WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT UNIONS PRESENTED ITSELF TO ME.
I told the left hand side of the class (35 kids) that they are Student Workers Local 1 and the other side that are Student Workers Local 2. They are to identify their union representative and formulate an appeal to management (the TA's and me) to not have to take the exam this coming Monday. I gave them the remainder of the class to "organize themselves" to make their appeal to management today. And that was when the zombies came to life and became engaged in the learning on unions because it was tangible and had a real consequence.
I can also assure you that the kids will learn that they have taken a tiger by the tail because I was a union official and negotiator at Xerox corporation for four years and will create a real life situation. I look forward to sharing with you the results of today.
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