about finances more to kids. I don't remember once learning how to balance a checkbook or learning about your credit. I would think that these things should be taught in schools so that kids realize before they turn 18 and get credit cards and buy cars.

Well, I am older so my kids are older, 34 and 26. They learned in the math classes they took it high school to balance a check book and how to right checks. Sometimes I think school teach info the child will never use outside of school. They need to teach some of the basics of life. Everyone is not college material.

I remember the ONLY thing school ever taught us about money was how to write a check! I remember that day well. I do wish they taught about financial management. I guess it is one more thing that we, as parents, have to do responsibly for our kids.

__________________
Make someone's heart smile today.

The problem with parents teaching their kids financial managment is that alot of parents were never taught. I agree 100% that there should be some classes offered to our school children on this. I sure wish someone had taught me better money management skills. I think it is a shame that life skills are not taught like they use to be in high school. I can only speak for the high school in our school system, but they don't teach food economics like they use to and other life skill classes.

I definitely think this should be a class in schools.

I learned about balancing - but only because I took accounting courses in high school..and it honestly didn't help me much w/applying it to real life.

__________________
Stephanie (27) & Virgil (31)
Caden 3 y.o. 11/28/04 29w preemie
Wyatt 17 mos. 9/25/06
#3 due 8/24/08

In defense of all teachers out there...at least in VA, we do teach economics. I agree I didn't learn much as a child, but I am teaching my students. I've even taught them about the stock market with mock investments in the second grade. It is coming to a school near you I even read an article today about schools inviting in banking proffessionals to teach "crash courses"

Also, as far as the parents teaching, there's a lot of things we weren't taught, that doesn't mean we don't need to learn them. I myself am a financial nightmare, but I have taken BABY steps to be better about teaching my kids. I got them each a bank with 4 compartments-savings, spend, investments and donate. They even came with a parent/teacher guide. I'd be glad to share.
Jeannine

I took an elective Money Math course in HS, we also had business, finance, economics all were electives and not required. I think they should make a basic personal finance course required. I learned alot more from Money Math than I did from geometry and algebra!

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr is being taught in alot of schools across the country so I don't think it will be too long before something is adopted

__________________

A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

In defense of schools, I think they are teaching kids about money. Although my DD is in kindergarten, they have a 'banking day' where they can physically deposit money in a real savings account. And they are learning the names and values of cash right now. I know the later grades have other life skills classes, too.

And not everything can or should be taught in schools. It is my job as a parent to teach my child about money management and many life skills. My 5-yr old does get an allowance. Right now it is fun money but she's learning how to save up for something she wants (delayed gratification). And as she gets older I'll involve her more in paying bills, savings, etc. We already have investments started for her. We do talk about credit cards and 'the money wall' and what happens when an adult works. Since I work from home she sees firsthand some of what is required. When my now adult kids got to be teenagers we went over their budgets as soon as they started talking about moving out of the house.

__________________
"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I had advanced math all through high school and we "brought" stocks and followed them thoughtout our high school years. we also "had a check book" that we used for "purchases" thoughout the year. they were things WE as students asked our teacher for. we also played monopoly as moguls ala Donald Trump.

allgirls

__________________
allgirls, mom to 3 girls

I learned how to write checks and balance my checkbook in 6th grade. Then in junior high we were given an assignment with the stock markets. In high school I had to build a budget for a family of 4 that had to include all necessary utilities, groceries, medical bills, mortgage/rent, etc.

__________________