We live in a world of international commerce, of global markets and of instantaneous exchanges. This wave of global interaction has come about in the past decades, but the current and future generations of young adults do not seem equipped to handle the bombardment of hassles and hoops that need to be jumped through in order to achieve financial mobility. Specifically, credit cards and other on-the-go forms of buying and selling. With the allure and promises of being free from the restraints of cash, many teens and young adults decide to forgo the needed educational process that comes with those mobile abilities. Whose job is it to teach them this? Is it the parent’s job? In a time when many adults are running into the same pitfalls as their children, I do not believe that it is their responsibility to teach what they do not preach. Instead, I believe that it is the job of the educator, the school.

For many of you who may think that the national pandemic of financial illiteracy isn’t as big as many say, think again. Over 53% of high school students said they had some form of credit or debit card debt. Half of high school students cannot manage their money properly so they accumulate debt. Think about that for a moment. How can we sit around while half the school’s students are falling into the ever-growing pit of credit card debt? The problems don’t even end there; college students are rife with financial problems. 82% of college students say that they incur penalties based on not paying their credit card balances every month. 84% of college students say they wish they had some form of financial education class in high school. If they want it, why not give it to them? Let me be clear though, I think C-A provides a variety of classes that all students would benefit greatly from -- the problem is that they are not required. Many students would never take something that is not required. We need to do two things here at C-A. First, we need to expand our financial classes so that they are practical to the real world. As it is, many classes pertain to the business side of things. Not all students want or need to learn about the ins and outs of the business world, they just need to learn how to budget and use money well. Now, with the budget not being able to grow as planned, I understand there are restrictions, but we can still expand. How about basic Money Management and Personal Finance classes, both of which are required? That would help educate the future generations of buyers, many of whom are already racking up debt and incurring the wrath of real world finance, and allow them to get a grip on what goes on when they leave daddy’s wallet behind.

Now, secondly, we must require that students learn the basics of financial literacy. We need widespread change, both within our school and our own state. C-A needs to require that students graduate, with any diploma, with at least two years worth of financial literacy classes, whatever they may be. Any diploma, all the courses. Don’t give a struggling student who thinks he or she does not need those classes a choice. Tell them. We are made to take three to four years of many other courses that are used far less often than basic money management. Why is being financially literate pushed back on the ladder of things to know? We need to learn to be financially savvy, and for those who think it is unimportant, have fun in ten years when you are stuffed to the neck in debt. I’ll be rolling in the Hamiltons, baby!