Are schools teaching students enough about financial skills?

Money - Wads of cash. You know you want it. You know you can't resist.
Canada
May 21, 2007 9:06pm CST
After reading Rich Kid Smart Kid, something was pointed out to me which I feel is quite relevant. Are schools teaching students enough about financial skills?Generally, the graduates of today are leaving university with knowledge of their profession whether it is a nurse or a lawyer or whatever he/she chooses to be. But have they learned enough from school to help them succeed in the real world?Robert Kiyosaki, the main author of Rich Kid Smart Kid, says that because schools are so heavily focused towards the scholastic education -- writing, reading and arithmetic, schools have neglected to teach students financial skills so they can survive in the real world. Personally, I don't think that students are teaching enough about how to invest, how to manage money, etc. With this in mind, these people will enter their careers without this knowledge. Most people will probably never reach the top of the ranks, but if they had financial education, they would have a better chance. Though, I cannot ignore the fact that character and personality are influential, I still believe that financial education in school will lead to success in the future.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@kgwat70 (13387)
• United States
22 May 07
I agree that schools are not doing enough to teach our children how to save and invest their money to help them earn more with what they have plus make a lot more as they get older. This would definitely be a good course to be offered in schools. I was fortunate enough that my father told me the importance of saving money and investing. Teenagers love to go out and spend all the money they receive or earn and do not think about the importance of saving for their later years when they may need money. I feel that if our kids are well educated with their finances this could possibly prevent financial difficulties later on in life.
• Canada
23 May 07
I think this course is offered in school. But the fact that it's not a mandatory course means most students are missing out since not everybody will choose business as their career path. Thanks for your thoughts.
@mik0930 (371)
• Philippines
22 May 07
I don't think schools are teaching enough on financial skills, except when taking Finance and Management. They are left with the concepts, not the practical things in life. THey should be taught in order to succeed in life.
• Canada
23 May 07
That is true. Most of the subjects in school teach us concept of whatever, and not how to apply it to real life. If the connection between what we learned in school and to our actual life were more clear, I think that more kids would stay in school and do better. Except when taking Finance and Management. That's true, but the majority of students don't take that course. I think schools should reach out to all their students and teach them financial skills, not just those who have business in mind as their career.