They have no clue when they are being ripped off either - with loans or any other products, because they cannot comparison shop. No wonder the savings rate of these young kids is negative - without basic math skills, they can’t figure out how to do a simple budget.
I agree, but that's really due to a total lack of education about money. I didn't say they don't need any math skills, I said higher math, meaning algebra and beyond. You don't need algebra to draw up a budget, or trig to know what tax bracket you are in. What you need to do any of those things is a good working knowledge of arithmetic. If you want to be a scientist or engineer you need higher math, but 99% of us are not scientists or engineers. I think requiring higher math to graduate discourages many people from graduating who will never need that math.
The truth is schools don't teach about money, profits, running a business, etc. because teachers themselves are largely ignorant of such things. They look down on such things, just like Obama does. That's why they become teachers.
“The truth is schools don’t teach about money, profits, running a business, etc. because teachers themselves are largely ignorant of such things. They look down on such things, just like Obama does. That’s why they become teachers.”
True, the teachers came out of the same system they are now creating - one that has no idea how the real world works but feels superior to it. Ironic.
I’m not sure ‘higher math’ is required to graduate these days. But I don’t consider it really difficult math either, other than how badly teachers mangle it so the students don’t understand it. I taught calculus for a short time (I couldn’t stomach being surrounded by liberals all day) and the kids were amazing how easy it was, when explained in a way they understood.
Basically, students aren’t taught much of anything of value these days, whether on the science or liberals arts side. Reading what the founding fathers wrote, for example, shows their knowledge of the language and of communicating well was leaps and bounds above what is expected today.
” If you want to be a scientist or engineer you need higher math, but 99% of us are not scientists or engineers. I think requiring higher math to graduate discourages many people from graduating who will never need that math.”
Most of us aren’t authors either, so why learn how to write well?
I think a well-rounded education shows students where their abilities and strengths lie. If we assume everyone is incapable of doing something difficult, we steal the opportunity from them to excel. Or to just have the basics to use later on in their lives, if it’s not their strength.