Right because every teenager is just dying to learn algebra right? But they still all take it. I'd be willing to bet that even through the unwillingness to learn algebra, a highschool graduate knows 10x more about algebra then doing taxes.
I don't even understand why in my school you start learning languages in grade 4 -_- like grades 1-3 are the perfects grades to start why 4? I am now in grade 7 and struggling at spanish, somehow magically go to the intermidiate level, because it's sort of harder when you get older.
I hate how they always throw in grammatical definitions that I never learned, like perfect tense, preterit, subjunctive... Even the English trying to explain the language is messed up.
So you just want to know how to pay your taxes, ignoring the cultur that language classes give you, and being a good citizen who know how to consume and increase your rent! Good for you!
Actually Guest, according to the post above, you would take language classes completely through your primary and middle school years. You would get all of the culture and lessons through 8 years instead of 2-4 in high school. In high school you should be prepared for life, including learning how to do taxes, understanding the difference between adjustable rate and fixed rates, how to manage a 401K or savings plan, what a mortgage entails, how to decide if a loan is good for you, and how to invest well. So, yes GOOD FOR ME!! These are definitely things I wish I had been taught in high school. Not all schools or districts make these kinds of classes requirements, and they should.
different guest, but just because there are more years of it, doesn't mean you are actually learning more of it.
Most kids hate and barely understand basic algebra (which as many pointed out is mandatory) Do you really think if a kid can't figure out 4x =16 solve for x, they are gonna have the comprehension and desire to to learn all these other things? Every single thing you mentioned is highly based in math, and believe it or not, based a lot on algebra. Sure you aren't exactly being told to "solving for x" you are instead solving for interest rate, or how big a loan payment would be or how long you'll have to be paying off that loan, or what your net income is. Taxes, mortgages, retirement funds, loans, etc. all have a basis in being able to do algebra, that is why kids have mandatory math classes. They have to learn the basics of HOW to do things before they can learn the concepts of WHAT they can do with those basics that they have learned.
I would still agree it should be a mandatory Senior or Junior class when they should know those basics by then, but coming from a school that DID have a class like that, I also understand how pointless it can feel for the school to even bother with it. Half the kids barely pay attention because they couldn't give a shit, and half the class had to be retaught all that basic algebra stuff because they completely forgot it and so most of the time was spent relearning things everybody should know instead of learning the things the class was actually meant for.
My school actually does have that class and it actually requires you to pass these classes before you can graduate. It's called Career and Life Planning. Is this just my school? We are requires to take it in our freshman year.
with my school, they teach you how to do stuff like how to balance a checkbook, and what a credit score is, but never anything with taxes and applying for financial aid for college.
The only solution is to become more like Germany. You separate the kids at a very young age into 3 categories of intelect. The smart kids can do maths and chemistry and the dumb people can learn how to law bricks. Simple: do not mix the dumb and the intellectual elite.
My middle school makes you take a "financial choices and life decision" class and my high school makes you take two half year or one full year course of accounting to get math credit. Also being bilingual often helps you get a job.
Most kids hate and barely understand basic algebra (which as many pointed out is mandatory) Do you really think if a kid can't figure out 4x =16 solve for x, they are gonna have the comprehension and desire to to learn all these other things? Every single thing you mentioned is highly based in math, and believe it or not, based a lot on algebra. Sure you aren't exactly being told to "solving for x" you are instead solving for interest rate, or how big a loan payment would be or how long you'll have to be paying off that loan, or what your net income is. Taxes, mortgages, retirement funds, loans, etc. all have a basis in being able to do algebra, that is why kids have mandatory math classes. They have to learn the basics of HOW to do things before they can learn the concepts of WHAT they can do with those basics that they have learned.