HalifaxTalk.com

[Tarheel]

[wildhandyman]

[AndyR]

[wildhandyman]

[AndyR]

[Joe]

The class is arguably the best class they will ever take at the school. College bound or not the basics skills taught are needed by everyone. The focus has been on the money aspect but in reality the class is just another class that has the same general expenses as a typical lab class with a few extra items that may be needed. The major cost is the cost of the teachers but in many cases teacher positions can be shifted around so that there may not be a true increase in 4 teachers. You could make the same cost analysis of any class and come up that it is expensive. Again people choose to focus on what they want to find to complain about rather than the good the class will bring. I daresay there is not one child that will not be better off having taken the class.

[iteach]

Don't give up. I agree it is a class that all students should take.
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Sister to sister we will always be,
A couple of nuts off the family tree.
~Author Unknown

[wildhandyman]

[millworker]

Gasp, they could that simple math with pen and paper.
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The lord gives, government taxes it away.

[chitchat]

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There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles. ~~ Anonymous

[Joe]

I never said they need the calculators or the textbooks. Let’s just get the class passed and we will work out the details. Look at the stats and details as outlined below.
I cannot believe the idea of not having the class is even an issue.

Suggested Halifax County Schools
Personal Finance Curriculum

One semester class required for graduation taught to 10th, 11th, or 12th grade students covering the following:

• Investments
• Banking
• Credit
• Savings
• Consumer skills
• Insurance
• Taxes
• Buying a house and car
• Budgeting


Jumpstart Coalition 2006
Survey of High School Students

• Average score for Virginia students on the Jumpstart Coalition Survey of Financial Literacy is 55%.
• Only 5.2% of Virginia students scored a C or better on the Jumpstart Coalition Survey of Financial Literacy.
• Conversely, 94% of Virginia students achieved a score of D or lower on the 2006 Jumpstart Coalition Survey of Financial Literacy.

Visa 2005 Survey
of High School Parents

• 74% of parents ranked developing good personal financial skills as a concern for their children’s futures.
• 70% of parents surveyed said their child has not had any formal training in money management.
• 76% said that schools should be required to teach money management skills.

Hartford Financial Services
2007 Survey of College Students

• Less than one-quarter of students say they are prepared to deal with financial challenges after graduation.
• 76% wish they had more help preparing for their financial future
• Half of students surveyed say that parents teach them about financial matters.

Additional Compelling Statistics

• 75% of students admit to making financial mistakes in college
• 52% of Americans do not review their credit report yearly
• 36% of Americans do not have a budget
• 63% of college students acquired a credit card before the age of 19.
• 53% of college students who have a credit card say that they did not receive appropriate education on the use of a credit card

Current Reality

• Financial literacy objectives are assigned to a variety of middle and high school courses.
• Financial Literacy objectives are covered in regards to their relationship to designated course objectives.
• Financial Literacy objectives are not the focus of instruction.

The Solution

• Teach financial literacy objectives in a comprehensive course.
• Make financial literacy objectives the focus of instruction.
• Ensure that every child receives the financial education they need in order to be a contributing member of society.
• Require a course in Personal Finance for every student in Halifax County as a requirement to graduate.

Name a class more beneficial,

[gray ghost]

Joe, I think the class is a wonderful idea; my military experience has brought me into contact with some soldiers who think that as long as they have checks in their checkbooks, then they are ok to write checks (even though they are out of money.)
Furthermore, if a young person trashes their credit score early in life, it's an uphill struggle from there; they may never be able to obtain routine loans at acceptable interest rates.
Joe, is the class being held up now only because of the budget issues outlined in the local paper this week, or is there more to the story?

[haligirl]

I'm sure that the budget issues may play a role, but I still think one of the issues will be with whether or not the class is considered CL and offered for dual enrollment. The students and parents are obsessed with being at the top of the class, and no one is going to want to take a class that doesn't further this goal. Remember folks, PE is CL so that it can be used to satisfy the PE requirement for a 2 year college degree.

[ginblossom]

I'll be glad when high school goes back to being high school. Our main job should be preparing students for what comes after college. Whether it's work, trade school, college, or military depends on the student. They are not all at the same level (maturity nor academic).

[granny]

As a mother of 3 grown children....AMEN AND AMEN ginblossom.
High school should be just that. The courses where great the way they were. Sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad. I think that this is what has happened since Stapleton came along.

I know the government has a lot to say about who, what and how a subject is taught , but we have gotten WAY away from that at the high school.

When you can teach racing, culinary arts, esquine and all of these other BS courses and can't teach a kid to write a check and pay his bills; apply for a loan for a house, etc, something is terribly wrong with this situation. The courses for trade were good courses and Home Ec back "in the day,"
but we have gotten way beyond that.

I think other than a mass riot by all parents in the county is going to be the only way to wake up the school board. Their first awakening should be to figure a way to get out of the 4 year contract they just agreed to for Stapleton. The second thing that they should do is to grow a set and stand up for what is right for Halifax County and our future....the children.

I am stepping down from my soap box now.........
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It is useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for office. (borrowed from Berkley Priest)