Letter to the editor: Teaching kids about finances

Regarding “Personal finance class long overdue for Pennsylvania students” (Dec. 28, TribLive): What a great editorial! It was good news to hear that our state finally woke up in 2023 and realized this should be part of our children’s education. Where have they been for 200 years?

Better yet, where have all the “educators” been for years? They should be the ones seeing this gap. I have said for years that these kids are really being shortchanged when it comes to graduating high school or college and going out into the real world. They certainly are not ready.

Your editorial expressed exactly what I was feeling. Not only are they not prepared for all the different financial situations that life involves, but a large majority are tens of thousands of dollars in college loan debt. They will never be able to dig themselves out and have a normal, productive life, get married, buy a house and raise a family. They are drowning before they ever get started.And finances are one of the major causes of divorce.

I don’t know how educators and the school system let this happen. Then, when you see the proficiency scores of kids graduating, you have to wonder what is going on. They are doomed!

I agree totally until you say government leaders need to get involved with the budget. We need to get the government out of education and the carrot and stick they use to bribe school districts into wacko programs.

I certainly hope this is implemented, and the sooner the better.

Carol Keber

Plum