Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Financial education encounters obstacle in standardized assessments

The practice of letting kids learn about personal financial the hard way could have been a surrounding factor within the financial crisis, some say. Years of Americans were elevated to be financially illiterate and turned loose upon the world. As the country regroups financially, a trend is emerging to establish personal finance and a part of standard training curriculum.

A financial reform is in place

Educating on finances is an integral part of the 2010 financial reform law. When the law passed it integrated incorporating an Office of Financial Literacy. Through online tools and educational programs, The Office of Financial Literacy will supposedly try to make it easier for teachers to educate students about personal finance and for consumers to educate themselves about money management.

The public should be satisfied with this decision

Good public relations are just one more benefit of educating people about finances. For example, Genworth Financial announced a program this week to help personal finance education in more than 300 high schools across Virginia called “My Money, My Future.” Earlier this year Visa, Inc. introduced “Financial Football,” a free online game that teaches children about money using personal financial decisions to influence the outcome of football action. American Express jumped on the education train also. They posted a website called "Currency" directed at younger adults to help them make wise financial decisions as well.

No place to be found

When it comes to financial literacy education in schools, teachers have their work cut out for them, according to Dan Kadlec at MoneyWatch. Kadlec attended a recent Financial Literacy National Educators Conference in Washington D.C. Teachers there told Kadlec that they have to focus on topics that are included in standardized tests. Most all of the standardized tests required for students and schools don’t contain anything on financial literacy.

Citations

MoneyWatch

moneywatch.bnet.com/saving-money/blog/bank-dad/financial-education-at-school-is-it-a-pipe-dream/407/

Sacramento Bee

sacbee.com/2010/11/08/3168061/unstable-economy-requires-new.html

PR Newswire

multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/genworthfinancial/43291/



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