Post by: General Geoff on January 12, 2008, 11:05:58 AM
Too few of our young minds have absolutely no idea how to manage finances, and for good reason: Nobody teaches them! When I was in high school, we had a paltry 1/2 year of Econ. I learned a lot in that 1/2 year, but I can't help but think how much more I'd have learned, had it been a full year course, or better, several years. At the very least I think Alg2 should be replaced with Economics, and I think Trig should be too. Not to say they shouldn't be available to take for those who want it, but I think Econ is more important as a whole.
What do you guys think?
Post by: HankB on January 12, 2008, 11:29:23 AM
Post by: General Geoff on January 12, 2008, 11:31:42 AM
And I don't think it's replacing harder courses with easier ones. I think it's replacing more obscure maths with more useful ones.
Post by: Strings on January 12, 2008, 01:32:40 PM
Post by: Brad Johnson on January 12, 2008, 01:41:42 PM
Brad
Post by: jefnvk on January 12, 2008, 02:22:12 PM
Post by: Manedwolf on January 12, 2008, 02:25:04 PM
Are they going to bring in successful brokers to teach it?
Or is it going to be taught by public school teachers who are financially illiterate themselves in never having done investments?
Sort of like the old thing about why you'd listen to a guidance counselor who's making $30k a year and has an office the size of a broom closet.
Post by: grislyatoms on January 12, 2008, 02:31:27 PM
Quote
Sort of like the old thing about why you'd listen to a guidance counselor who's making $30k a year and has an office the size of a broom closet.
Not everyone's motivated by a fat paycheck and a large office.
I consistently turn down offers that would take time away from my daughter. Plus, three days a week off is pretty nice.
Post by: HankB on January 14, 2008, 04:31:05 AM
Who will teach it, though?
Are they going to bring in successful brokers to teach it?
Or is it going to be taught by public school teachers who are financially illiterate themselves in never having done investments?
Sort of like the old thing about why you'd listen to a guidance counselor who's making $30k a year and has an office the size of a broom closet.
Successful brokers? Why would a public school bring in capitalist swine that may not even have graduated from teacher's college?Are they going to bring in successful brokers to teach it?
Or is it going to be taught by public school teachers who are financially illiterate themselves in never having done investments?
Sort of like the old thing about why you'd listen to a guidance counselor who's making $30k a year and has an office the size of a broom closet.
Seriously, you ask a pretty good question . . . which remided me of a Rodney Dangerfield movie called "Back To School" or something of the sort. Rodney was a self-made multi-millionaire, who went back to college to get a degree . . . his verbal clash with a clueless economics or business professor was hilarious.
Post by: 280plus on January 14, 2008, 04:39:54 AM
Post by: Joe Demko on January 14, 2008, 04:56:35 AM
Quote
Who will teach it, though?
Are they going to bring in successful brokers to teach it?
Or is it going to be taught by public school teachers who are financially illiterate themselves in never having done investments?
Sort of like the old thing about why you'd listen to a guidance counselor who's making $30k a year and has an office the size of a broom closet.
Are they going to bring in successful brokers to teach it?
Or is it going to be taught by public school teachers who are financially illiterate themselves in never having done investments?
Sort of like the old thing about why you'd listen to a guidance counselor who's making $30k a year and has an office the size of a broom closet.
Don't make assumptions. Lots of teachers invest towards retiring early and with more than just their pension. There're two right in my building who have become pretty wealthy from investing. I know it's a treasured meme on this board and at THR that public school teachers are all ignorant commies, but you're assuming facts that aren't in evidence. There is much more to economics than investing in any case.
Post by: K Frame on January 14, 2008, 06:02:23 AM
Post by: Chris on January 14, 2008, 06:12:13 AM
Quote
Don't make assumptions. Lots of teachers invest towards retiring early and with more than just their pension. There're two right in my building who have become pretty wealthy from investing. I know it's a treasured meme on this board and at THR that public school teachers are all ignorant commies, but you're assuming facts that aren't in evidence. There is much more to economics than investing in any case.
+1 big time. One of the best investors I know is a school teacher at a public school. Teaches science, and coaches soccer and track. He wanted to be a teacher, and spends his "three month vacation" working so he can straight invest his summer school salary.
As to teh general subject, teaching these classes isn't going to solve the problem. What we're talking about isn't a lack fo education creating the problems, it's a lack of common sense. Common sense should tell you that if you earn $40,000 a year and have a wife at home with 4 kids, you cannot afford a $300,000 home, two new cars, and credit card bills from eating dinner out 4 nights a week. Yet, I know someone in that exact position headed towards bankruptcy because he didn't use his common sense.
Look at the college kids. Off at school with little or no income. Give them some plastic, and watch them run up huge cell phone bills, download hunderds of dollars worth of music and movies, and then cry to mommy and daddy when the bill comes.
How do you teach common sense?
Post by: Paddy on January 14, 2008, 06:27:34 AM
Post by: roo_ster on January 14, 2008, 07:19:20 AM
The scene with Kinison was pretty funny too...
I was a scream
Post by: CAnnoneer on January 14, 2008, 07:37:56 AM
As to math classes, the current situation of the average highschool graduate is already abysmal. No need to cripple it further. All that talk about keeping well-paying jobs here and being more competitive to rebuild America, et cetera, et cetera, yet there are still people that advocate learning less, not more.
But, this is just one of the many consequences of endemic lack of responsible determined long-term leadership in this country.
Post by: grislyatoms on January 14, 2008, 07:41:44 AM
Mellon (Rodney Dangerfield) "Alright, I'll say it. BECAUSE TRUMAN WAS TOO MUCH OF A PUSSYWIMP TO SEND McARTHUR IN THERE, AND BLOW OUT THOSE COMMIE BASTARDS!"
Professor (Sam Kinison): "I like the way you think. I'm going to be keeping my eye on you."
Post by: MillCreek on January 14, 2008, 09:21:33 AM
Post by: armchair warrior on January 14, 2008, 05:08:23 PM
a class called "bachelor knowhow".
It covered cooking,basic sewing,comparative shopping,
and basic bill paying/household budget.
It was actually a pretty good class.I think it was
only offered that one semester then got dropped.
I think it should be mandated!
