Why Aren't There Financial Classes?

Today, Hillsboro School District’s high schools only require three math credits to graduate. Yet, some people say math is an essential life skill if we are to pay taxes, pay for our wants and needs, and manage our time. For such an important skill, you would think Math, along with English, would need four credits in order to graduate before being set free into the real world.

“The math department recommends four credits of math during high school especially if you are headed to college,” the technical math teacher, Mr. Hopper advocated.

Right now, high school offers the casual Algebra, Calculus, and Geometry classes. It surrounds students with sometimes confusing math problems that they may never see again, if math isn’t their primary focus.

“Not every career path is going to be math heavy and we need to acknowledge the students that aren’t math focused in nature,” Economics teacher, Mr. Nave stated.

However, there are math courses that should be offered to everyone. There aren’t a lot of students (even seniors) who know how to pay taxes. Algebra and Calculus aren’t going to benefit students of this skill, at the same level as a financial course would.

As of mid 2015, the Council for Economic Education discovered only seventeen states require a personal finance course in high school.

Century High School is acknowledging that financial literacy courses need to be installed. Mr. Nave dedicates the end of the Econ unit talking about budgeting, credit and debit cards, insurance, and taxes. “I would say that embedded in the Econ curriculum there is personal finance,” Mr. Nave said.

Next school year, technical math will be replaced by Financial Algebra. The course is positioned between Geometry and Algebra II curriculum

s and will tackle financial issues that might occur in students’ lives when they transition to independent living.

While the state of Oregon is still on board with their decision of having three math credits to graduate from high school, it’s up to the individual to make the choice on whether or not four years of math is worth it.