[dfwgator]

My pet peeve is the fact that our schools do a piss poor job, if they even do it at all, of educating kids on personal economics, especially when it comes to credit cards. Of course if parents would do a better job of this, then that would not better. But I think if the purpose of education is to prepare people for life, this is one of the most important lessons that needs to be taught.

[mtbopfuyn]

My pet peeve is the fact that our schools do a piss poor job, if they even do it at all, of educating kids on personal economics, especially when it comes to credit cards.

Budgeting and credit cards are more of an ongoing hands on learning experience that is difficult to teach in a classroom. Taking the kids with you to the grocery store and mall so they can comparison shop is a very useful teaching tool. Instilling in them the difference between a want and a need is a must. Let them decide if they want that $100 pair of designer jeans to wear every single day or look in the sales rack for five or more pairs of jeans. Hmm, do they really need 5 new pairs of jeans or can they save those extra bucks or use them for something else they really need?

[brownsfan]

"My pet peeve is the fact that our schools do a piss poor job, if they even do it at all, of educating kids on personal economics, especially when it comes to credit cards. "

I couldn't agree more. Wouldn't it be nice if personal finance were required, and they quit teaching about why Johnny has 2 mommies. I would think that 2 semsters of personal finance would give a good foundation. Checkbook management, credit card management, retirement planning, insurance, mortgages, and intro to the stock market.
I would have benefitted greatly from that kind of education!

[jammer]

But I think if the purpose of education is to prepare people for life, this is one of the most important lessons that needs to be taught.

Absolutely correct. Our children aren't even taught the miracle of compound interest, much less the disaster of the "miracle" of compound interest in reverse, like cc debt.

[linda_22003]

I do think the schools should be teaching this, if only because so many parents do so badly at money management they are not really fit to teach it themselves. Am I the only one here who is old enough to remember having a savings account at school? It was a passbook account, and you brought your passbook with you to class on certain days.

[paulat]

My pet peeve is the fact that our schools do a piss poor job, if they even do it at all, of educating kids on personal economics, especially when it comes to credit cards.

Why should that be the schools' job? It should be up to parents. Each family's financial situation is different, and they should provide guidance as to what is appropriate for theirs!