Russian American Company

Classroom Banking System and Company Store

The teacher (Russian American Company manager)and students (Company employees)may want to establish a system to earn 'rubles' in the classroom. After you have established this, you may want to open up a Company Store at Fort Ross on your overnight stay so the students may spend their hard earned rubles.

The classroom system can be for academic work completed, for classroom chores, and/or for fines given by the teacher. You can work with your class to establish this banking system. So that the actual rubles are not lost or stolen, the banking system should include a bank book to keep track. Before the overnight trip the student is informed of how many rubles they have earned. At the fort the rubles can be handed out to the students in an envelope with their character name on it. Or make a possible's bag and put the rubles there.

While at the fort the teacher may hand out rubles to the parents and to the Park Staff who will be working with your class. The student may earn rubles for doing their tasks and for good behavior.

At the fort, you may have a Company Store or Trading Post where these rubles are spent. The store can include things that were made in the classroom or store bought items. Students can make necklaces with beads or shells, dolls, candles, bags, painted objects, or come up with your own ideas. The student can than be paid for making these items. This creates an incentive for the student. The class may also buy items like little silk bags, fans, soap, old style toothbrushes, tea, licorice, beef jerky, fruit, juice, or use the trade item list for ideas. You may also ask parents and other community members for items and trinkets. During the day the different groups (militia, artisans, cooks, gardeners, and hunters) take turns at the trade store. The parent in charge of the trade store should love to barter.

For the student the banking system is a great way to learn math and banking, is an incentive in working for the class, in earning rubles for good behavior, and for bartering.