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Narrative: The Geranium Project is a collaborative effort initiated by the Paris Henry County Healthcare Foundation, Inc. and Henry County High School greenhouse management classes. The scope of this program provides a "real world, work situation" for ten classes at the high school, two classes at the middle school, and eight businesses and organizations. As a result of the program, geranium plants are grown and sold to the public with all proceeds being donated to the Henry County Healthcare Foundation.

The project's design includes a cross section of students at HCHS including those in Applied Communications, Journalism II, Algebra I, Accounting, Drafting, Marketing, Art, Agricultural Science, and Greenhouse Management. Business involvement includes Henry County Medical Center, Jim Adams IGA Food Stores, Henry County Farmer's Co-op, Hutson's Ag Service, Snap-On Sun Tech Systems, and the Henry County Extension Service.

Through participation in the Geranium Project, students gained experience in seeding and plant production, business management, meeting deadlines, public relations, and pride in community involvement and completion of the job. The Applied Communications class created presentations using PowerPoint to aid Public Relations. The Journalism class was responsible for advertisement of the sales. Algebra students used basic math computations, grow rates, and germination percentages to create charts and graphs. Accounting students provided general bookkeeping. Drafting students designed the layout for greenhouse tables and floor pattern for maximum efficiency. The Marketing class assisted in business analysis, pricing and advertisements. Art students designed and made promotional posters and the Agriculture and Greenhouse Management classes were responsible for actual production and distribution of the geraniums.

Students gain real-world experience by exposure to the reality of meeting a schedule, day to day problem solving, participation as part of a team, capital investment for future profit, individual responsibility in a group effort, and the commitment to a job well done. The project stresses three of the key practices of High Schools That Work:

1. Students have access to a structured system of work-based and high-status school-based learning planned by educators, employers, and workers.

2. The project results in a credential recognized by the industry, and a first-hand view of an employment opportunity and career pathway.

3. The project enables academic and vocational teachers to provide integrated instruction.

It Works! The project was so successful that new greenhouse space has become necessary, and the effort to create it has become a community project. Through the cooperation of the local Wal-Mart, Paris Plumbing and Supply, Lakeway Building Supply, City Concrete, B&B Trucking and others, a second greenhouse will be completed by the end of the 1997-98 school year. The design and building of the greenhouse space has further involved students from various subject areas.

Contact:
Kris Bailey, Education Edge Director
217 Grove Boulevard
Paris, TN 38242
P(901)642-9551
F(901)642-8073

E-mail: baileyk4@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us

Billy Ross
Henry County High School
(901) 642-5232 Ext. 26

Leroy Frazier
Henry County High School
(901)642-1687

Cross Reference: School Based Enterprises