Comments on: High School Money Book - Book Review

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:26:56 +0000

jd,
Agreed. Unfortunately, too many school systems focus on teaching standardized tests and outdated information instead of teaching students things they can use in real life when they graduate.

By: jd

jd — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:26:32 +0000

Basic personal finance principles absolutely need to be taught to our high school students. We need the next generation of Americans to learn how to budget and save before they reach the age at which they can obtain a credit card.

By: Mark @ TheLocoMono

Mark @ TheLocoMono — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:26:04 +0000

Motley Fool has an excellent book for high school students to read, I forget the title but anyone can look it up on Amazon.

By: Dividend Growth Investor

Dividend Growth Investor — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:04:20 +0000

Well I personally do agree that high-schools should teach personal finance. However, I doubt that people of this age will actually want to learn it from a school. Geography,English and Math are also taught in high-school, yet high-schoolers results are deteriorating.

By: My Dollar Plan

My Dollar Plan — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:49:46 +0000

I agree, schools should teach personal finance. Maybe not opinions on money, but they need to be teaching money management skills! If parents don’t have the knowledge and the schools skip it, we’re putting our children at a disadvantage. I could go on forever, since teaching kids about money is my passion…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:57:10 +0000

Rocket,

I’m of the opinion that basic personal finance should be taught in high schools. Many students don’t know how to balance a checkbook or have a basic understanding or taxes, credit, insurance, loans, and more. Buying a car shouldn’t be the first time someone thinks about their credit score or tries to understand interest rates. Many people don’t think about personal finance until they need it - which is often too late.

Of course, I don’t have the ideal solution for what schools should teach, and I’m sure a lot of school systems would find a way to botch it up. But I think an introductory course is better than leaving people to find out on their own. Otherwise, too many people will wait until it is too late.

As for parents teaching it, yes I think they should, but there are so many people who don’t know anymore than their children.

By: rocketc

rocketc — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:04:29 +0000

I would prefer that schools stay away from the area of personal finance for many reasons. Too bad parents have dropped the ball in this area.

By: MelStar

MelStar — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:06:36 +0000

Sounds like a good book for high school students. They really do need to put more focus on personal finance in the high schools. Students get good educations but no one ever teaches them about money and how it works and the need to start saving at a very early age.

Excellent recommendation