Financial Anti-Literacy

On the 14th and 15th my director, in her illustrious wisdom, decided that we should have a financial literacy training for the whole school during 1st and 2nd period the week before the DC-CAS.  Now I'm not all about teaching to the test, but I am against wasting time (especially before the all powerful test).  This is time we could have at least spent practicing the math, reading and writing skills necessary for this test.  But no, instead we get a super-dumbed down (to the point of being wrong) series of 'lessons' on financial literacy provided by the FDIC. 

I will be the first to agree that financial literacy is extremely important, so if these lessons had taught some of the more important and complex issues with finance that would have been great.  But instead, the kids are given the basics, and this being a school that focuses on the Business side of things, the students (at least the ones in my class) knew basically all of it.  Now I could maybe even look over that fact if there hadn't been a parade of extremely bad advice to go along with the very very basic information. 

I have provided a few choice examples from this morning below:

• 9:15 - Carryout EVERY DAY is apparently a great way to save money.  Who knew?  Never mind the cost to your own bank account, the environment and your health.  Who knew long term costs don't actually affect you (and that doesn't negate the fact that it is also a short term cost)?
  
• 9:45 - since when is POPEYE'S a wise financial decision?
• 10:22 - Keep it legal people.  Keep it legal.
• 10:29 - Glossary = cheating
• 10:38 - Don't trust the internet.  Especially paying bills and online banking.
• 10:48 - 2nd time we have brought up that you shouldn't bring a baby in when you ask for a loan.  I mean ok, but twice?  Really, it needed saying twice?

 And there you have it, 4 hours of precious class time wasted.