Would teaching personal finance in High Schools help

Would teaching personal finance in High Schools help?
If we require personal financing course to be required in High School, do you think we would improve our economy in the long run? I don't mean just a "token" course. A serious course for like 2 years just like as in math, english, etc.
Personal Finance - 4 Answers

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1
I think it would.... IF the right kind of course was offered and students would listen and pay attention. Unfortunately, I think they and many in the educational system would treat it as a "bird course". Personally, I think if "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George S. Clason was introduced to high school students as required reading, we might see some improvements in our country's overall personal finance intelligence. And by default an improvement in our overall economy. For that matter, I think there should be course work that helps develop the student as a citizen of our country. A course that would improve the basic awareness of politics, personal finance, and help develop critical thinking would be worth while. And one that doesn't make it all a boring, tedious lesson in balancing checkbooks and enforcing the idea of "reading at least one newspaper a day". That concept just make it a task, a chore, to get done. That sort of teaching never promoted any interest in current affairs or in money for me. Again, this is my personal opinion.... But I believe that much of the reason we as a nation have some of the problems we do is that the lack of basic knowledge (and not promoting an interest) in these areas is helping to create a sense of hopelessness and helplessness in segments of our society. A feeling that "I, as an individual, don't matter and can't make a difference" in our personal life and in the world. Good question.


2
I took a financial course at college that changed my life. I learned about investing and interest. Without it I would have turned out like my parents. ONE four month course!!! How's that?


3
Forget the economy, our individual finances would profit from such a course. Mortgages and investing in mutual funds or stocks and bonds can be difficult, if not impossible to fathom, for even the most adventurous of us. Even filling out income tax forms can leave many of us scratching our heads and fearing financial ruin. School boards should be pressed to explore ways to educate our young people (is it too late for some of us?) in this field.


4
well they do to a point it is called economics pleas a real life sumilation in a class form would help and be needed