Finance Education

[Jake]

If only the world were so simple.

I'm pretty sure that schools pumping out students likely to end up receiving government assistance one day (aka bad or struggling ones operating at a huge disadvantage from the get-go) would be happy just to adequately teach their kids the basics of reading, writing, math, and science.

Once they've got that covered, then maybe they can move on to personal finance. Baby steps, my friend.

I think you give people in "the business of government" way too much credit either way. Do you honestly think politicians and/or people in education administration are capable of formulating a plan so devious and convoluted?

I'm sure all of the principals and people in charge of designing a curriculum for poor kids have a secret mountaintop conference somewhere each year sponsored by the big government Democrats where they plan on how to keep those stupid bastard poor people dependent on government assistance. Item number one on the agenda, poor people's remarkable ability to miraculously become educated and productive members of society and how we can prevent that from happening.

It really is humorous to think about the practical application of what you are implying here.

What's even more humorous is your naivete'.

When do you think the Department of Education was created in this country? The answer is 1979. Amazingly, we got along for 200 years without one. In addition, government unions didn't exist until the 1960s. So what has happened in education the last 40-50 years? It has gotten more expensive while the quality of the product continues to decline, despite top down management from experts in Washington, DC. That's what happens when the first priorities are salaries, pensions, tenure, and politically-correct curricula that offer little real world value taking precedence over practical things like finance and economics. So while we're spending more money per student than any country on earth our kids scores in math and science pale in comparison to other countries. Johnny can't think but he feels really good about himself.

According to you, however, despite being in the education business all these years, we just haven't gotten around to incorporating basic economics into the system.

But the solution is what it always is - more money. Gee, what a shock.

Educators at local levels would love to have the control seem to believe they have so they could address such things. Instead, they have curricula dictated to them and failure to follow it jeopardizes federal funding. Their hands are tied. "All the principals" don't have anywhere near the power you attribute to them, but otherwise you make a great point.

So yes, it really is that easy to control when you create a national department and manage from the top down. That's why such things are created by federal government.

 

[OHSportsFan]

I remember going to a place called Exchange City when I was in 5th and 6th grade.

It was a mini-society where we were all assigned jobs (judge, police, shop owners, city workers, etc. etc.). It was part of a program from some bank where they taught us a ton about finance...well for that age- writing checks, paying bills, managing funds.

Pretty sure that place is shut down- the City, not the bank, although maybe.

 

[Buckeye86]

Why would our government-run school system want a economically literate population? That would make many of the bullshit political arguments re: economics moot because they wouldn't work any more, and fewer people would get themselves into situations that made them dependent on government.

In short, a financially educated populace is bad for business when your business is government. It is no accident that our system does not emphasize it. It doesn't take a genius to realize its importance, so its exclusion cannot logically be an accident.

What's even more humorous is your naivete'.

Not believing in a nationwide conspiracy perpetrated for over 30 years covering multiple presidential administrations to keep people dependent on government assistance is naive? Um, okay.

When do you think the Department of Education was created in this country? The answer is 1979. Amazingly, we got along for 200 years without one. In addition, government unions didn't exist until the 1960s. So what has happened in education the last 40-50 years? It has gotten more expensive while the quality of the product continues to decline, despite top down management from experts in Washington, DC. That's what happens when the first priorities are salaries, pensions, tenure, and politically-correct curricula that offer little real world value taking precedence over practical things like finance and economics. So while we're spending more money per student than any country on earth our kids scores in math and science pale in comparison to other countries. Johnny can't think but he feels really good about himself.

That seems like a description of possible incompetence and the endemic problems of providing and measuring a basic level of education to a diverse population, not a national conspiracy.

According to you, however, despite being in the education business all these years, we just haven't gotten around to incorporating basic economics into the system.

According to me? I don't believe I made a statement one way or the other about it other than to laugh at the idea of implementing the conspiracy that you described. Either way, while basic economics may not be a staple of high school curriculums, it is offered. I think that receiving a quality education at a "good" school versus attending a school that struggles to provide a basic education is the major factor in whether it is offered or not.

Send your kid to a good school and a guarantee you they can get a solid foundation in economics.

For instance, economics is a major component of social studies at Dublin elementary schools. That took me 3 seconds of google searching to find. I also find it interesting that those are the standards mandated by Ohio. So are schools choosing not to teach economics or are they incapable of it?

I said it before and I will say it again. The schools that are pumping out soon to be government assisted citizens are struggling to teach kids to read and write. And somehow they are going to magically work in economics and personal finance in some effective way?

Is education in this country flawed? Yes. Will it ever be perfect? No. Is the fact that everyone doesn't receive the same level of education some sort of national conspiracy to keep people dependent on government assistance? If that's what you actually believe more power to you.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Not believing in a nationwide conspiracy perpetrated for over 30 years covering multiple presidential administrations to keep people dependent on government assistance is naive? Um, okay.



That seems like a description of possible incompetence and the endemic problems of providing and measuring a basic level of education to a diverse population, not a national conspiracy.



According to me? I don't believe I made a statement one way or the other about it other than to laugh at the idea of implementing the conspiracy that you described. Either way, while basic economics may not be a staple of high school curriculums, it is offered. I think that receiving a quality education at a "good" school versus attending a school that struggles to provide a basic education is the major factor in whether it is offered or not.

Send your kid to a good school and a guarantee you they can get a solid foundation in economics.

For instance, economics is a major component of social studies at Dublin elementary schools. That took me 3 seconds of google searching to find. I also find it interesting that those are the standards mandated by Ohio. So are schools choosing not to teach economics or are they incapable of it?

I said it before and I will say it again. The schools that are pumping out soon to be government assisted citizens are struggling to teach kids to read and write. And somehow they are going to magically work in economics and personal finance in some effective way?

Is education in this country flawed? Yes. Will it ever be perfect? No. Is the fact that everyone doesn't receive the same level of education some sort of national conspiracy to keep people dependent on government assistance? If that's what you actually believe more power to you.

1-i think comparing dublin (or another like school district) to american education is a poor, poor, in fact piss poor comparison. primarily in this case, an assumption that those kids have mostly learned such intricacies at their own homes. second, the soci-economic demographics of such a school district fail to provide the basis necessary. third, dublin typically puts up with less shit than just about anybody else in the state. essentially they dont cow-tow to the nea/oea like many of the other districts, further when they have incompetent teachers they have the resources to "reassign" a teacher, ie pay them their salary, or a greater one and put them in a worthless non facing position but also make their lives living hell, forcing them to quit essentially. fourth, i think you fail to understand the impact of the nea/oea and dept or edu (at all levels), is it fully coordinated attack on something, well not quite, but teachers unions are amongst the most sophisticated, and well organized, along with best informed unions in the county, imo. you have millions of college educated, often at masters or higher levels, with a giant bankroll and a footprint that goes into every city, town, village, parish, etc in the country, they painted a wide sweeping, highly effective imprint on the country. it is much different than it was even 40 years ago. finally, while education is important, other issues have dramatic effects on our country and throwing money hand over fist does not seem to be the most effective measure out there...