Teachers trained for The Real Game

Education Minister Judy Foote joined 30 educators at a news conference today. The educators were completing training sessions for a unique, made in Newfoundland and Labrador initiative entitled The Real Game, a career development resource for students, that can be used in the classroom.

Minister Foote was also joined by Bill Barry, an educator from Newfoundland and Labrador who developed The Real Game series, and Helen Hackett, vice-president of the National Life/Work Centre who helped facilitate teacher in-servicing.

"A fundamental ideal of The Real Game is to provide students in grades 3 to 12 a focus on the their development as confident people. When the time arrives they will have the necessary levels of self-esteem and self-assurance to make informed decisions, and, in this particular case, choices involving the path their futures will take," said Minister Foote. "While this program has been available previously for teachers to use, I am delighted that our teachers have received the necessary training so they and their students can benefit even more from this initiative."

The Real Game program was created by Newfoundlander Bill Barry. "There are three key elements in The Real Game program - teamwork, moral support and collaboration. It was teamwork seven years ago that gave birth to the original The Real Game program at St. John Bosco School. A special thank you to all the staff and students involved there. Moral support soon followed from Premier Roger Grimes, then the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations. As to collaboration, hats off to the tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers, administrators, career specialists, government officials and the National Life/Work Centre which have been, and continue to be, the life and success of The Real Game program."

Designed for students in grades 3-12, The Real Game series teaches personal management issues, teamwork, decision-making and communication skills. It assists students in making informed decisions about their future. Additionally, the program can be adapted to any provincial or national education system.

"This program recognizes the power of partnership," said Helen Hackett, a facilitator of the program. "So many people worked at making this training session a success - the Department of Education, Human Resource Development Canada, school boards and over 200 educators. Everyone has contributed and they have done so recognizing that this is all about the students."

The Real Game series is an investment in the economic and social fabric of our province. Every opportunity provided to students that increases their potential is their key to achieving personal success and becoming full participants in the continued development of this province," said Minster Foote. "Education remains a priority for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Supporting initiatives like this is part of government�s overall plan to provide the best possible education for our students."

The Real Game is a life/work development program that enables students to rehearse for, experiment with and learn the pros and cons of various gateway options from secondary school to their own adult futures in simulation situations that are realistic, yet risk free. The Real Game program is currently in use in every province and territory in Canada and is moving into Europe. To date, England, France, Denmark, Australia and New Zealand have plans to implement this program in their education systems.

In-servicing has taken place in Plum Point, Stephenville, Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander, Clarenville, Burin/Marystown, Bay Roberts and St. John�s.

Media contact: Catherina Kennedy, Communications, (709) 729-0048.

2002 03 27                        2:15 p.m.