Hopkins 9th graders learn about finance for new grad requirement
MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Jesse Theirl looks over a classroom of 9th graders at Hopkins North Junior High knowing they are at the cutting edge of a new graduation requirement for the district.
"Every time we start a class like this, we'll try to see what they know, their perceptions, misperceptions that they have coming into that particular class," said Theirl.
Turns out, students are pretty much a blank slate for Theirl, because his job is to introduce them to financial literacy.
"Budgeting, credit, investment, insurance, career planning will be in there as well as goal-setting," explained David Braaten, master business teacher for the district, and one of the innovators of the new standards.
"It started back in 2008 during strategic planning," said Braaten.
The recession was in full swing, and the way Braaten sees it, the national economic disaster was a lesson in the making for his students.
"You can't ignore the fact the economy has hugely been suffering, and much of it is a result of people making poor decisions," said Braaten.
So, starting this year, ninth-graders in the Hopkins school district will get an introductory class in financial literacy. As juniors and seniors in high school, they will take more in-depth classes.
"Getting us ready for the real world," said 9th grader Peter Williams, "like banking and stuff, and managing your money and knowing basically what stuff costs in college."
Braaten is eager to see how this emphasis on financial literacy will affect Hopkins grads, and the nation, moving into the future.
"I really, really think if school districts would get on board with this, it could definitely make a huge economic impact on our society," said Braaten.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All rights reserved.)