Greene County Daily World

From Birth to Bankruptcy in Indiana

Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at 12:42 PM
<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>

It's no secret that Indiana ranks fourth among the states in the U.S. for bankruptcy. Accordingly, it has one of the highest home foreclosure rates in the nation as well. http://gcdailyworld.com/blogs/chriswathe...

With these recent statistics in mind, it's not surprising that a number of teen students did not pass a financial literacy test issued by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. In fact, 60% failed this basic money skills test.

To read more about the details of this test, including ideas for adults educating children by age group, see the Indiana Youth Institute's (IYI) Spring 2008 issue, entitled "From Birth to Bankruptcy: Teaching Dollars and Sense to Hoosier Kids" at:

http://www.iyi.org/resources/doc/Issue-A...

They even suggest resources, such as board games, books, programs, and websites. (Yes, the board game known as Monopoly is one!)

On the IYI's website, you may find these statistics on kids in Greene County interesting too: http://www.iyi.org/resources/pdf/greene....

Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

It's all too sad.

I must say, I educated myself (partly the hard way) about finances. It's a shame that there isn't a required course in high school that drills it into kids' heads that credit can be good, but it should not be used instead of long term savings.

Actually, what's sad is that it should even be required! Do parents teach their children anything anymore? I know that my parents taught me some, and if it wasn't for that then I'm sure I would be bankrupt right now.

-- Posted by per moenia urbis on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 1:17 PM

To think of all the things that I had to learn in high school that I never needed to know, and yet we don't teach kids how to manage their own finances?

-- Posted by Question? on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 2:45 PM

Ok here goes my TYRATE on the STATE of the STATE's control of Education.

Its always been my contention from the time I was in elemetry school that the students learn more when they see the point in it. On the other side you have our current Educational system thats set up to learn "skills" and then apply them. I hear all the time from young people "I dont see any point in learning MATH, or History, OR English (thats me). When your teaching from the other end of things you get HOW DID YOU DO THAT... and I need to Know that... ..

When I became interested in Baseball I was not told the skills first I was taught the game and then the skills. Basketball I learned watching the state championship games on TV and then learned the skills to play.. I had to have a motivation.

now I know some very inovative teachers that have at times INCORPORATED the this method in teaching--its a gift from GOD they are able to...

the basic Math class should be taught as "basic money handling", allowing 2 birds to be killed with one stone.

now for me English would have been easier if it'd been taught with the rules of the Lewis Township Broaugh but that is just background.

-- Posted by silerCityDude on Tue, Jun 3, 2008, at 3:33 PM