As the 2012-2013 school year begins and the recession sends our nation further into debt, the Shawnee Mission School District is now offering more personal finance classes for high schoolers.
SMSD’s new Financial Literacy, is based off of Dave Ramsey’s Lampo Group where he counsels adults who are suffering from financial stress. Ramsey began the group in 1992 and since then has helped thousands get out of debt and invest in their future.
Diana Shanks teaches Financial Literacy at East and understands the value of taking a personal finance class in high school. Shanks teaches four semester long courses of Financial Literacy and with total enrollment at 88, the classes have almost quadrupled in size from previous years.
“I didn’t offer to teach it, but I’m glad I did,” Shanks said. “Students need this kind of information before going out in the real world.”
During the class students watch videos from Dave Ramsey about saving your money from a young age and managing your debt. The course follows Ramsey’s “Seven Baby Steps” plan. The plan teaches students to set up emergency funds, pay off debts early and how to invest and save long term.
“The class really helps students to kind of learn how to manage money before they have it,” Senior Laura Metz said. “Most of the time there’s no one to really sit down and tell you about stuff like mutual funds or debt, it really teaches you about the real world.”
According to Shanks, the district chose to create the Financial Literacy class last year because they understood the importance for students to learn how to manage their personal finances from a young age.
“Missouri requires every graduating senior to have taken a personal finance course,” Shanks said. “Kansas hasn’t done that yet and who knows what Kansas will end up doing, but most people feel its really important to get a handle on your personal finances.”
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