Should a personal finance course be mandatory in high school ?
How to run a small business, get a grant, succeed as an employee, invest for goals, manage retirement? So that people would be more financially literate?
Public Comments
- yes it should be around grade 11 I think that way they have time to get the hang of it before they graduate and are in the working world or figure out what college/university they can go to
- Its a good idea. I have thought so for a long time, too. I'd include it in a course on practical life--basic cooking, shopping, nutrition, how to balance a checkbook, how to pay bills, even how to sew and do basic easy car service and plumbing--all the practical things that people pick up, if at all, only after years of sometimes bitter experience.
- Yes! Public schools usually state someplace in their mission statement that they're around to produce productive community members. Learning all those things is important.
- DEFINITELY. I can't understand why this obviously necessary information is - withheld? - from young people. Is this an accident? Ignorance? Or...?
- Sounds good to me
- I wish they had put more emphasis on it in high school. Maybe using some real life scenarios. All they taught us was how to balance a checkbook, calculating interest, etc. "Consumer Math" is what they called it. A "Money Management" would have been better.
- Such a class would receive my full endorsement.
- Fabulous idea! I'm going to call my school board tomorrow. Perhaps we should all write a letter to the editor of the newspaper and get this course in schools ASAP.
- Actually that is a good idea. Sadly that was the job of Mom and Dad but apparently they are so busy they can't be bothered with raising the children they brought into this world.
- Yes! I not only think that a finance course is in order for young people, but I think it wouldn't hurt to require two or three finance courses through one's high school curricula. HS courses are a dime a dozen... but what is especially important in this case is the neccessity to explain to students why it is important to understand basic finance (ie. keeping a checkbook, cash versus credit, affects of debt, & the importance of saving early), it's relationship to real-life, and the impact if the basics are ignored. I found your question interesting... for I was just talking to someone at work yesterday about this very topic.
- Yes. Everyone will eventually have to deal with money, finance, credit, retirement, loans, investing, etc. They should learn about these things, including basic consumer shopping (think grocery store, balancing a checkbook, day to day banking, credit cards, etc.) and handling a paycheck, paying the rent, buying a car, obtaining a mortgage, etc. The sooner, the better.
- sure and also parents should teach their kids too.
