High School Curriculum is Outdated
January 10, 2008 12:43 pm Financial education controversy, Higher Education Wealth, Promoting financial literacy“The explosive growth of technology and the rapid expansion of a global economy have developed side by side for the past 15 years. This has drastically changed the financial markets, career setting and the way we conduct business. With all this change you would think the public schools would change their curriculum. That is not the case.
The subjects taught in our public schools today our are nearly the same ones we taught 50 years ago. The public high school education system is not delivering the financial education skills necessary to make it in the ‘real world’.
Studies show that students between the ages of 15 to 21 feel unprepared to face the complex world of today’s society. Most of the education efforts are being focused on encouraging high school students to enroll in college, yet only a third of the 16 million high school attendees today will end up with a bachelor’s degree. And when they do receive their degree the average graduate will leave with over $20,000 in student debt and student credit card debt. The young money skills that will help them avoid all this debt all because they did not receive a practical financial education.
The current high school education system is not set up to produces highly skilled workers for the jobs of the 21st century – it is not set up to produce young entrepreneurs. Many of the jobs that high school graduates are qualified for are being sent overseas. Employers feel the pinch as well. They have a hard time finding college graduates that are qualified for event the most basic job.
In today’s society high school and college graduates need to have something special to offer. There are people in developing countries that are receiving training on many of the entry level jobs that will work for a fraction of the cost that an American worker would need to pay their bills. Because of the curriculum there is little home for people to retire young and in some cases there is little hope of them retiring with young money.
We need to start teaching financial education now to help today’s youth avoid financial struggles. What’s more, we need to go back to our roots and teach people what made this country great – free-thinking, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship.
Vince Shorb
http://www.YoungSuccessNetwork.com
February 28th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I think your articles and your program are desperately needed in the HS and college curriculums. Have you had any discussions or made any progress in getting this type of information into school programs?
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Hey Brian great question. With individual teachers I have had great response. They understand the importance of financial education and they are truly looking out for the best interests of the students.
I am waiting to approach schools and school districts on a larger scale. In preliminary meeting with some school adminstrators they are concerned because they are funded by how well they do on specific testing requirements. The “No Child Left Behind Act” basically funds schools based on how well students do on certain tests. Financial education is not part of those test so the administration is less incline to include financial education into their curriculum. Plus college requirements do not include “financial education” course as prerequisite curriculum.
People always ask me “who’s fault is it?” Schools, Parents, Lobbyists, Unions, Politicians? There are plenty of people we could blame. I however choose to offer a solution. We owe it to the future leaders of America to give them the skills they need to succeed - spiritually, financially, emotionally and in their relationships. I thank you for your suggestion and wish you all the best! Vince