Learning to budget money, juggling personal finance, manage credit and apply for loans is sadly usually missing from high school curriculum. Money matters and lessons on business are often overlooked, and, if they are included, are usually reserved for a tiny block of syllabus mashed in between corporate marketing and weighs and means in every social studies class taught.
Which is why in recent news Arizona decided to pass a law requiring students to learn “subjects like spending, saving, investments and credit” is exciting to say the least.
The law’s author State Sen. Kimberly Yee thinks that learning to be good with money should begin much earlier than is regularly established.”As we grow into adulthood,” she said. “These are the same skills that we have to have in our own households. So the earlier we teach these simple, basic skills, I think the better off society will be.”
Yee, a Republican from Phoenix also shared that she is excited that so many others agree with her acquisition, and that many school districts are “well-prepared to comply.” Adding that it was important to make personal-finance a part of the state’s law, because in doing so it will help it to remain should educational standards change in some way.
A sentiment that is echoed by Chris Kotterman, the Arizona Department of Education’s deputy associate superintendent of policy development and government relations, who agreed that, while financial literacy is a part of the existing curriculum in some math classes, but not regularly enforced to be taught so specifically, the new law will add a much needed focus that has been lacking. Adding that whenever ruling bodies write and pass a bill that calls attention to an education-related subject that it becomes a marker for school districts and charters to say “Hey, you need to pay attention to this.”
There is no word yet as to when the law will be instituted, but no one can argue that having financially intelligent young people will benefit not only their future, but also the future of our community.
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