"Economics promotes a framework for fundamental decision making," said James B. O'Neill, director of the UD's Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship. "The same cost-benefit analysis can be used, whether the decision is as simple as buying a bike or deciding to go to grad school."

O'Neill has been teaching economics at UD for 30 years and now additionally serves as director of the master's program for economic education and entrepreneurship.

"The theme I've tried to emphasize is that positive change has to come through the power of teachers," he said. Over the last 20 years, 250 teachers have completed UD's masters of arts in economics and entrepreneurship program, and hundreds more have taken courses. Concrete results are becoming more apparent. "We've seen significant changes in content standards in the school system," O'Neill said, as he pointed out that economics is introduced into math classes, making the learning experience more meaningful.

O'Neill cited the mini-society programs as an example of how children in the third and fourth grade are learning fundamental economic concepts. "The teachers are trained to help kids design a community, complete with name, student-designed currency, their own rules and market surveys," he said. "The kids learn to lead their own society, think on their feet and do presentations." This multidisciplinary experiential learning helps children to develop reading, writing and math skills, he said.

Even O'Neill has been surprised by the elementary school children's mature grasp of economic issues. He recalled a fourth-grade student commenting to a visitor, "We're learning how to face problems we're going to face as adults."

O'Neill has pledged $200,000 to an endowed fund to honor his parents, James and Dorothy O'Neill. Throughout their lives, his parents have had a strong work ethic and been committed to the power of education. Both had their higher education curtailed by the Depression but encouraged their son to move forward with his education.

His gift will provide financial assistance to graduate students in the program through fellowships and provide support to improve and expand the program.

Raised in Oregon, O'Neill attended Portland State and Oregon State universities and began teaching social studies at a junior high school. He later earned a master's degree in economics education and a Ph.D. in education administration from Purdue University. He came to UD in 1971. He had been told that a center for economics education was being established at UD, and he liked the opportunity to start something that would improve the quality of instruction.

"It has been a wonderful environment with excellent support from the community and the University administration," O'Neill said.