Financial literacy education popular within wake associated with financial crisis

The concept of letting kids learn about individual finance the hard way could have been a contributing factor in the monetary turmoil, some say. For years, individuals in the U.S. have learned about money by themselves. This has led to individual difficulty and detrimental effects to society at large. As the country regroups financially, a trend is emerging to set up individual financial and a part of standard training programs.

Individual finance and financial change

Legislators drafting the financial reform bill that became law in 2010 believed that financial literacy education could be a powerful compliment to financial regulation. An Office of Financial Literacy was formed with the law. 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.

Financial literacy education is excellent PR

The private sector is recognizing the glaring need for financial literacy education as a PR opportunity. One business has gotten on board already, Genworth Financial, which is doing what it can to educate personal finances in over 300 high schools across the country. Visa, Inc. is combining fun and learning with a game called Financial Football, making them one more company out to help educate those who’ll learn. Additionally, American Express began a site called "Currency" in their try to help the financial troubles in our country.

Nowhere to be found

MoneyWatch's Dan Kadlec feels like teachers have their work cut out for them when it comes to financial literacy. Kadlec was told in a recent Financial Literacy National Educators Conference, that current teachers only include what is on standardized tests and just how to make those scores higher. Financial literacy is something that doesn’t show up on the standardized tests given to student to evaluate teachers.

Details from

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/