Whenever a sex-education curriculum is proposed, there is the predictable outcry from some parents who argue that schools are taking over things that should be taught at home. But the sad truth is that sex education often isn't handled at home -- so if the schools don't do it, and the parents don't do it, the kids will have to make do with what they pick up from the popular culture and other kids -- just the way we learned. (And we all know how well that turned out.)
Now, we're seeing those familiar arguments for a different subject. Spurred by recent fiscal crises, more schools are starting to teach lessons on things like mortgage loans and interest rates. This does not please some people:
Soaring foreclosure rates and credit card debt are spurring some states to consider requiring personal finance classes in order to get a diploma, sparking criticism that parents should teach financial basics at home instead of packing life lessons into an already tight school day.
We're going to trust the same dummies who lived way beyond their means and helped bring about the current prdicament to teach responsible finance to their kids? We might as well let them learn budgeting by studying Congress. Bring it on, schools. Let's start focusing the same attention on innumeracy that we have on illiteracy.
