The Game of Life™
   Valuable educational tool
   distributed statewide

Independence Middle School in Sophia, Raleigh Co., was the scene of a tournament kicking off the distribution of 500 copies of The Game of Life™ to all middle school libraries and to all West Virginia public library branches statewide. The program was organized by the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office Financial Education Program.

“This is another great tool in the toolbox to get children involved in learning the basics of financial planning,” State Treasurer John Perdue said. “The students really get into it and learn valuable lessons while they are having a good time.”

The Game of Life: Twists and Turns is a newly updated Hasbro version of the old-favorite, Milton Bradley board game and is packed with valuable lessons on personal finance and career planning. The games were donated to the Treasurer’s Office by Visa USA through an agreement with Hasbro.

Phil Rupe, the Independence Middle School teacher who demonstrated the Life tournament concept with one of his seventh grade classes, said the Game of Life was a great tool for teaching financial literacy as well as other life skills. The students loved playing the game and were very competitive as they tried to make the best decisions when faced with life’s twists and turns.

Partnering with the Treasurer’s Office in the announcement was the WV Library Commission, represented by Suzy McGinley and Lori Smuthkochorn. The WV Library Commission is handling distribution of the games to all local library branches.

The generations-old game has been updated to replace the paper money with an electronic pod that tracks salaries, cars, houses, families and life points for each of the four players. After all turns have been taken, the pod cashes in all assets and gives points for relationships. The player with the most Life Points wins.

The game encourages education, family and community involvement to earn the most Life Points. To be realistic, it even charges interest against the debts for houses and cars, just like in real life.

IMS Principal Terry Poe opened the ceremony by introducing David Severt, Raleigh County Assistant Superintendent of Schools, who encouraged the eager seventh graders to make decisions about what to do with their lives on this board game and then experience the good or the bad that may result.

Treasurer Perdue asked the students to pay attention to how important education is in the game. Opportunities arise for promotions, but if the players had not previously earned degrees, the promotions would be denied.

While the tournament was in full play, guests circulated and sat among the participants. West Virginia House of Delegates members Melvin Kessler, Ricky Moye and Louis Gall all got a first-hand view of the students making tough choices that will prepare them to make real-life decisions later on. Donna Tanner, executive director of the West Virginia Association of Community Bankers, was also on hand to help out and support this financial education event.

For more information on The Game of Life project in West Virginia, contact the Financial Education Program of WV State Treasurer's Office at 800-422-7498 Ext 6575.

 
 The Game of Life