As the economy continues to founder, it’s a good time to help students improve their financial literacy. I’d like to think when they grow up they might handle the economy better than we have. America’s Prmoise Alliance has developed curriculum on financial responsibility, Saving Our Futures, where you’ll find lots of materials here to help educate your students on being smart with money. SOF uses simple, practical advice such as don’t buy stuff you cannot afford. It also explains credit, savings, and even gets into public policy.
Saving Our Futures is a companion to the documentary I.O.U.S.A. If you haven’t seen it and don’t want to shell out for a DVD, the documentary website has a condensed 30-minute version. It’s pretty frightening, and would be a good introduction to these materials for your students in a scared-straight sort of way.
Lest you think you don’t have time to teach this stuff, may I direct your attention to the epidemic of home foreclosures and lost jobs in America. Making sure students know a thing or two about money may prevent a mess like this from happening again. -BILL FERRIS
Related stuff:
This American Life: when banks go bad
Instructifeature: Four views of the recession…and none of them look that great
Marketplace explains the credit crisis as an Antarctic expedition
