We Got Schooled--But Not on Money!

Hey everyone,

I've been reflecting on a significant gap in our education system: the lack of comprehensive financial education. Why haven’t we integrated in-depth instruction on real-world financial matters into the academic curriculum? It’s not enough to skim the surface—we need structured, detailed coursework that prepares students for the financial realities of adulthood. As a college student navigating the complexities of “adulting,” I’m genuinely perplexed that our math education often ends at solving for x rather than teaching us how to manage compound interest or budget effectively.

Our curriculum seems stuck in a loop of outdated priorities where budgeting, money management, and even basic tax filing feel like afterthoughts. Instead of just drilling the periodic table, we should also cover a 'periodic table' of financial literacy: consumer credit, credit scores, managing credit reports, and the like. And on top of that, we need to understand consumer lending, interest rates, APY, and yes—the wonders of compound interest when you let it work for you.

Imagine a future where we graduate not only with solid GPAs but also with a robust financial IQ. Picture stepping into adulthood armed with insights into dividends, CDs, Roth's/IRA's, and passive income strategies—tools that could make the roller coaster of adulting a lot less daunting. Our schools should also be teaching us about the steps we can take now to prepare for later in life... like the importance of retirement planning, the role of 401(k)s, basics of health and auto insurance, co-pays and deductibles, maybe even medical coding and billing ( could be really usefull!) Social Security, and job benefits, just to name a few.

I'm really curious: how do you think we could revamp our education system to focus on these crucial financial skills? What innovative ideas or courses could fill this glaring gap? Let’s dig in, share some honest thoughts, and maybe even laugh at the absurdity of our financial missteps along the way.

Submitted April 13, 2025 at 12:27AM by Kitkatkate907 https://ift.tt/G7PUcVR