Comments on: Finance Topics They Don’t Teach In High School, But Should

By: Hao

Hao — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:35:10 +0000

Aarrrggghhh! Next thing I am going to read is how school should teach how to apply/use toilet paper. People should take responsibility for not wanting to learn instead of complain that they weren’t taught.

I can’t speak for rest of the country, I went to public schools in NYC. We were taught about fraction, and how to calculate interest rate (basic interest rate). We were also taught how to calculate daily/monthly compound interest. In NYC high school, we were taught economy which include debt, taxes… Most of the math classes are the basis/foundation of knowing the finance. When I attended college, while majoring in Computer Science, I took 3 economic courses , an investment course, a personal finance.

They don’t teach these in school? I always find the only resource is not in school. Perhaps we should look at why some of us don’t want to learn. ASSUMING the course aren’t offered. Now look around youtube, savingadvice, your bank/investment websites, google the topics, you’ll find plenty of information on the topics.

By: Treeluva

Treeluva — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 03:09:18 +0000

It is my opinion that there is a reason these topics aren’t taught in a government run school system. What benefit would the government provide if the masses actually knew how to be responsible with their own money?

Maybe I am just a conspiracy theorist…. but it makes sense to me.

Sadly, parents don’t take the time to teach their children – mainly because they have no idea, either.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 01:01:27 +0000

As a finance major I knew tons about corporate finance and investing but didn’t really apply anything I learned to my personal finances. That was a big mistake on my part.

By: Megan

Megan — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:32:51 +0000

I graduated in 2010 and quickly realized that I had no clue how to manage my finances. Sites like this one have been a huge help in keeping me on track and providing advice when I have questions. Thank You!

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 07:47:30 +0000

Had to learn more about loans, investment and trade when I realized how significant it is to make money. Though a lot of teenagers won’t yet consider these topics valuable or essential, it is good to have a little bit of familiarity.

By: P.R. Lancaster

P.R. Lancaster — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:15:47 +0000

I agree with Tony (first comment) that these saving tips are rarely even taught anymore. I try to teach my kids ways to save and I think they get most of what I’m trying to say. I also try to teach my customers the same principles; I’m a homebuilder, and many first-time homebuyers underestimate additional costs involved in homeownership (interest, taxes, upkeep, etc.). Great article; I hope it reaches more people.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 03:12:08 +0000

Good night, I went to college at 18, didn’t even know how to open up a checking account or write a check, and though I knew how to manage money a little (though we were so poor I never had much to manage) I had to learn really fast how to manage money when I got married at nineteen! Did not have a clue…

By: robert zimmerman

robert zimmerman — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:26:45 +0000

Very excellent article. It is a wonder that we hear so little about it anywhere else. It seems the official position is that these lessons are better taught in the school of hard knocks.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:08:53 +0000

When you get down to it, the average American (or at least a good percentage of them) is simply utterly clueless about how to manage money.