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Financial literacy education must be taught in school now. This course should include public finance and personal finance. There is no excuse for students not learning these essential life skills. Drop those nonsense courses on alternative lifestyles and sexuality and insert financial literacy in their place. Do it now.

After speaking with the curriculum director for a Mississippi Gulf Coast county school district, I am convinced that a good one-semester course in financial literacy should be required and not just an elective. 

Some schools do not have a course to take even as an elective. Some schools cover this financial literacy with other life topics but it's not enough.

We teach our kids about math but stop there. 38 states have implemented some type of financial literacy education, it should be all 50 states. Stopping at an elective course that is watered down with other topics does not do the subject justice. Our kids are graduating from high school without a basic understanding of how to balance a checking account or account for debit card use.

Why are so many struggling through life

Money is at the heart of a large number of divorces. Money is the reason for suicides, depression, and job loss. People lose their houses because they did not pay their property taxes. The public complains about taxes without understanding what taxes do to improve their lives. A good deal of this misery could potentially be avoided with early education.

Ask yourself, did you teach your children about basic finance? Did your parents teach you? I already know the answer, no. My parents did not discuss financial stuff with any of my siblings. We learned by trial and error. 

I recall when I was in high school, the subject was included in "home economics". Everyone thought that class was just about cooking. I wish I had known, I would have taken it.

During my interview with the educator, I learned that often state legislators want to do the right thing and create a required course but they fail to support the courses with funding for the teachers. As parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens, all of us should become involved in this discussion. Spending what would amount to "chump" change on financial literacy education can help the economy in so many ways.
Resources

Believe it or not, you can use Monopoly and other games to teach children about money and finance. I found this highly rated game on Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3DY65Wj

The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance has a good website full of information that can help you get started. This one site can take you to other sites. Please pursue this effort with elected officials and your school boards.

Review other articles on this website about this topic such as: Simple steps to ensure our future is secure and Start your kids on the road to financial success now.

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