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By Trevor Doré, Opinions Editor

ith the dreaded tax time behind us,
W. it’s worth giving the general subject
of finances and money some thought.
Every year, we gather all of the financial
statements from the previous year in order to file
our taxes. Although many of us dread the thought
of taxes, there are a couple of ways of doing
them. You can fill out the paperwork provided
by the government, use an online
tax program or see an accountant.
Having a severe case of math
anxiety has led me to try just about
every possible way. Last year, I
tried an online system for the first
time and so far, I have found it to
be the easiest and most efficient
way of doing this task that we all dread.
The problem with doing your taxes using
an electronic system is that it’s hard to know
exactly what goes into the process that pumps
out the number at the end. The system asks you a
question, you type in the corresponding number ‘
and keep your fingers crossed that the end number
comes out positive.
Unfortunately, it’s not only taxes that seem

 

- Comme hor

Teaching high school students about finances

 

to have this magical allure to them. I find this to
be the case in many financial situations. However,
I may be predisposed to this considering my
chronic problem of math anxiety. All through
grade school, I dreaded the thought of math

class. Each day was a battle, a struggled to

make it to the end of class and pick up whatever
knowledge I could, in order to get through the
year. Fortunately, this did not prevent me from
completing Math 11 and 12, potentially the most
notorious classes of high school. While I managed

math classes.

to fight my way through trigonometry, geometry,

linear equations and sinusoidal graphs, I feel like

these two classes where almost a waste of time.
With finances being so seemingly magical,

I wonder if the years spent in math class could

have been put to better use. Perhaps, I should

have taken remedial math; however, I think

that we could all benefit from more financial

based learning throughout high school. I realize

that they did teach us about compound interest
and amortization and what not, but don’t you
think that we could all benefit from a little more
financial knowledge? While these concepts
were taught, they weren’t always framed in real
life situations. The basic principles of personal
finances should be covered in all math classes.
Perhaps like economics, it needs to be offered
as a separate class. Personal finances would teach
students about saving for retirement, the negative
impacts that debt can have on a person, financing
an automobile, and saving for

| realize that they did teach us about compound interest and amortization and 4... guture i ral This cl
what not, but don’t you think that we could all benefit from a little more financial te
knowledge? While these concepts were taught, they weren’t always framed in real
life situations. The basic principles of personal finances should be covered in all

could teach students about the
real ins and outs of credit cards
and how to live on a budget.
Imagine if students left high
school with an understanding
of interest rates, investment, assets, liabilities,
student loans, credit cards and taxes. A personal
finances class would not only improve individual
economic strength, but also improve the overall
economy.

While I have “The Wealthy Barber” and my
parents to thank for what financial knowledge I
have, I think a personal finances class in grade
school would truly help us all.

 

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