Momfidence! - Read the Blog : Reading, Writing, and Finance 101

About this Blog

Momfidence! cheers on commonsense parenting and sighs at the rest. How to worry less, wing it more. A.k.a. parenting by the seat of my mid-rise mom jeans.

About Paula Spencer

I'm the author of Momfidence! An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting, and a mom of four in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (where you can't even buy Oreos at the two wholesome groceries nearest to my home).

A rare foto in which all six Spencers face the camera! by Charles Harris

Some Kindred Blogs

Parentopia On mommy guilt
The Mother of All Blogs My fave fellow mom of four
MommaBlog in FotosLooks like my house
Parent Talk Today Kindred writer
Momformation ParentCenter
FreeRangeKidsSet them free!
Jane Austen Addict For diversion
Diet Naked For inspiration
Dr. Helen For conversation
American Poetry Alliance For mind expansion
BlythTimes For smart insights
LifeCoachBlog for positive reminders
Plan B for thinkin' past motherhood
Caring Currents Caregiver blog to which I contribute

Reading, Writing, and Finance 101

July 01, 2009

Someone in the Wall Street Journal today, commenting on the Bernie Madoff scandal and the financial ruin of the late celebs Michael Jackson and Ed MacMahon, wondered why they don't teach basic finances in schools? Good question. If there's room in the curriculum for recycling, ecology, anti-bullying, respect, black history (in Feb), sex ed, nutrition-label reading, et. al. -- and I'm not saying these don't belong in classrooms, only that they're non-3Rs that have become standards -- then why not personal finance? How to balance a checkbook. Compound interest and the bliss of saving. The perils of spending more than you earn.

Hmmm, maybe there's room for a few quick lessons on laundry, too.

Comments

Denise says...

I couldn't agree more - maybe a pre cursor to economics in later high school years.
Especially needed in this day and age.

Bree Cantu says...

Actually there is a class in high school that is suppose to be teaching this. It was called Success Skills when I went and it was required for all freshmen. I'm not sure what it's called now but I remember seeing something similar when signing up my teenage sister this year.

We went over keeping a schedule, staying organized, balancing a check book and watched Rudy at least 2x.

It wasn't all it could have been but it was there.

Jeff Berger says...

Hi Paula,

In Iowa, we successfully passed a finance literacy component to the Iowa Core Curriculum that now must be taught in all schools at all levels. How about that? The package also included technology, health, and civic literacy, along with employability skills. This is all on top of the basics.....