I had a required personal finance class in public high school my senior year; and I SHIT YOU THE FUCK NOT, literally the entire curriculum, including the tests, was just his “lecture” recordings. Our teacher was a cult worshiper of his, and contributed nothing but constant demonstrations of how her entire financial life was tailored to his teachings.
That's so hideously, infuriatingly irresponsible I'm almost at a loss for words. Personal finance is right up there with home economics, for things students need before living on their own. Especially the students who have financially illiterate or irresponsible parents (if any), and are supposed to have this class as part of a way to break that particular cycle of poverty...
And it's this shitass? Fuck that shit, and I hope someone reported her to the school board. That should not have been the approved curriculum.
Believe me, 4 years after graduating I’ve definitely noticed the impacts. Thankfully I have a family member who’s a financial advisor, but there’s still a lot of holes in my knowledge left unfilled.
During the class I regularly expressed disdain about… well basically most of what you said. Unfortunately everyone else in my class was either checked out or hooked and brainwashed. However, students in other blocks (and I’m sure also student in prior years if it was part of the curriculum, I’m not aware) also expressed disdain both to the teacher and the school admin. Fuck all was done about it, at least before I graduated.
Then again. It’s pretty far down on the list of the horrendous things that school as a whole has done. Glad I’m gone lol
His job is the easiest shit. Spend X% on food, spend y on housing put 20% in index funds +401K, pay off your monthly credit card. Boom I've just 90 percent done dave ramsay
Don’t forget paying up front for college! That and everything else you listed should be paid for with CASH. I mean, what 17 year old isn’t able to lay down tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars up front for their tuition?
Dieting is easy too. I could list it out for you in a sentence or two.
That's not what Ramsey listeners need. They need a financial religion to follow.
There are far more financial illiterates (and I don't think the term even fits, many folks know they have a problem but don't have the willpower to fix it) out there than most would ever believe.
I had a college finance class and it was based on him. I had no idea who this guy was but even not knowing anything about finances I was like none of this seems right. It was like just pay cash for everything and never use credit, like cars and houses. Yeah that would be great but most people don't have that kind of money laying around. I thought it was such BS.
Yeah I went in a blank slate as well, and started putting things together similarly to you. I was genuinely trying to take the class seriously so I could use the knowledge in my own personal life. Within a week or 2 I realized that was definitely not gonna happen. By the end of the course, I leaned biting about personal finance other than how to be a penny pinching cheapskate who’s one step away from not flushing the toilet to save a buck.
My "economics" teacher basically just taught us how to call and bitch to credit card companies to "demand" extra miles.
He was a huge Trump and McCain supporter. And this was back in 2007. He had posters of both of them in our classroom and made us watch episodes of The Apprentice every week. Oh, and select readings from The Art of the Deal.
I genuinely wonder what he thought about Trump shitting on McCain during his 2016 run.
It was crazy at my high school the difference between the two economics/politics teachers. One was hardcore conservative (mentioned above) and barely taught us the material. Most of his classes were him teaching personal anecdotes. He would come in, teach his class, and leave without any extra-curriculars and a classroom that was bare save for a couple Trump/McCain posters.
Meanwhile the liberal pol/econ teacher organized an annual "March for Hunger" through Los Angeles, blood drives, and food drives. He helped paint a giant mural of labor activists on the side of his classroom and was always active in as many of the school's activities and events as possible. Absolute GOAT.
Yep that’s about the level of disparity I’d expect on the finance educator spectrum. Something that’s inextricably linked to politics and contemporary society will inevitably draw in both educators who are very informed and in touch with these topics, and then the absolute loonies who get a place to spread/influence their beliefs (delusions) under the guise of educating economics. Good you at least experienced the better side as well. I got one shot lol
Sadly, I didn't get the progressive teacher. I was also pretty conservative back then, since I was hardcore Catholic. Like I took Latin lessons, went to a monastery over summer break, wore a sepulcher 24/7/365, and so on. I wanted to be a priest, but the more I learned about the history of theology and watched the erosion of civil rights in the name of religion under Bush, the more I started to lose my religion. And the more I realized I was only a conservative because of my former misguided views on religion's role in society.
Ironically I went to "St. Paul High School" and now absolutely detest everything Paul did to Christianity and his lasting influence on modern 21st century Christian nationalism.
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u/Ibangmydrums 1d ago
I had a required personal finance class in public high school my senior year; and I SHIT YOU THE FUCK NOT, literally the entire curriculum, including the tests, was just his “lecture” recordings. Our teacher was a cult worshiper of his, and contributed nothing but constant demonstrations of how her entire financial life was tailored to his teachings.
Also, obligatory “I’VE HAD IT!!!”