"Learning on the Job" Introduction
In Chapter 3, students learned how public and private consumer agencies
educate and assist consumers. In this lesson, students will focus on
one of the many state agencies, the Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer
Affairs, to learn its purpose and activities. Lesson Description
Students will use information from the Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer
Affairs Web site to learn about the role of the agency and its activities.
They can browse the site to collect information and answer four questions.
They will then use what they have learned to write letters to the Georgia
Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs to apply for a job. Applied Content Standards (from the National Council on Economic
Education) Standard 16: There is an economic role for government
to play in a market economy whenever the benefits of a government policy
outweigh its costs. Governments often provide for national defense,
address environmental concerns, define and protect property rights,
and attempt to make markets more competitive. Most government policies
also redistribute income. Instructional Objectives - Students will understand the role of a federal consumer agency: its
purpose, its activities, and its limitations.
- Students will be able to use this knowledge to write a job application
with the agency.
Student Web Activity Answers
- Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs champions the interests
of consumers and help to defend against unfair, deceptive or fraudulent
business practices. Through their outreach efforts, they want to educate
every Georgian about their rights and responsibilities in the marketplace.
This helps to ensure not only fairness to both consumers and businesses,
but a better quality of life for everyone. By assuming an activist
role and enforcing consumer protection laws throughout the state of
Georgia, they strive every day to remedy injustices and foil unscrupulous
schemes that are often aimed at the most vulnerable of our citizens.
In fulfilling their mission as the consumer protection agency for the
state, the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs is empowered to address
consumer complaints and, when necessary, to take legal action.
- Students' answers will vary.
- Students can find this information in the "FAQ" section of the Web
site. Consumers should submit complaints in writing, answering as completely
as possible the questions who, what, where, and when. They should also
provide detailed information on names, dates, addresses, and actions
taken so far.
- the Better Business Bureau
- Students' letters will vary, but they should include information
about the agency, its purpose, its activities, and how the students
will be able to contribute to the agency as interns.
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