🧑‍🤝‍🧑 / 🏡 How many of you folks had an "Economics" type class when you were in high school?

[TerryP]

I've been thinking about asking this question for awhile now. This morning, another post on X, and here goes:

 

[TerryP]

Mine wasn't an elective. It was required for the Seniors. I had more than enough credits to graduate; still mandatory.

Included:

• Taxes: Two forms, I recall. I want to say it was the "long and short" because I vaguely remember deductions (which were a little complicated, in high school.)
• We were given a fake bank account with five thousand. The assignment? Invest. (Yep, deductions came in there for some folks.)
• Home and car loans: I remember buying my fake house. I want to say it was a 30-fixed at 16 percent for the project. Used car: 13 I want to say. (I bought one when I graduated and that rings true (upper teens, not 13.)
• Credit applications, month budgets, paying the bills with the fake salary, etc.

Am I unique? Or, was it the school?

 

[sean]

I took an accounting class as a senior. It was an elective I took to fill out my hours. It taught us how to properly fill out a personal check, balance a check book, fill out and balance a business ledger, AP/AR, create a budget, etc. It also taught us about taxes, how to fill out tax forms, tax brackets, the different kinds of taxes that show up on a pay stub, and all that stuff, too. It was a fairly informative class.

 

[Sid Youngleman]

Mine wasn't an elective. It was required for the Seniors. I had more than enough credits to graduate; still mandatory.

Included:

• Taxes: Two forms, I recall. I want to say it was the "long and short" because I vaguely remember deductions (which were a little complicated, in high school.)
• We were given a fake bank account with five thousand. The assignment? Invest. (Yep, deductions came in there for some folks.)
• Home and car loans: I remember buying my fake house. I want to say it was a 30-fixed at 16 percent for the project. Used car: 13 I want to say. (I bought one when I graduated and that rings true (upper teens, not 13.)
• Credit applications, month budgets, paying the bills with the fake salary, etc.

Am I unique? Or, was it the school?

Such a class should be a graduation requirement in every high school, perhaps as a one-semester course in conjunction with a semester of Civics. Of course the primary obstacle for many students would be that if you can't read or do math, you can't deal with tax forms or figure interest.

 

[TerryP]

I took an accounting class as a senior. It was an elective I took to fill out my hours. It taught us how to properly fill out a personal check, balance a check book, fill out and balance a business ledger, AP/AR, create a budget, etc. It also taught us about taxes, how to fill out tax forms, tax brackets, the different kinds of taxes that show up on a pay stub, and all that stuff, too. It was a fairly informative class.

Aight! Same thing, basically.

(I can remember my 8x10 checkbook an register the teacher printed...one of those old copy machines we all had to smell when they came in the classroom: warm, and some odd odor everyone seemed to like. I didn't get it.)

 

[TerryP]

Such a class should be a graduation requirement in every high school, perhaps as a one-semester course in conjunction with a semester of Civics. Of course the primary obstacle for many students would be that if you can't read or do math, you can't deal with tax forms or figure interest.

Now that you mention it and I'm thinking back ... I think the class was called Civics.

 

[TerryP]

Here's a response. In general, it seems like a solid post on X. But then I wonder, are they suggesting real life experiences are a problem?

 

[Rsedge72]

Now that you mention it and I'm thinking back ... I think the class was called Civics.

Yeah civics I was about to bring that up.
We had required civics.
mostly covered how the government was supposed to work and how government is very much like a cancer.
Also had a combo type semester, had to do home ec for half and I can’t remember of the top of my head what the other half was. Anyway it was required as well.
Went over writing a check, and balancing check book in home ec.
we had to take economics as well. Went more into how finances work as a whole as well as the stock market.
Our economics and American history (both classes required in the same year). Combined 3 weeks of study to cover the Great Depression. We got to invest, barrow, trade, and then get just destroyed when the market crashed. It was very inlightening and probably one of the best learning experiences in high school for me.
Tangent over!!

 

[alabama mike]

I did not have the class in high school. Ohio started a program that all students have to take now, not called economics but for the life of me I can’t remember the name.

 

[footballer]

Home ec was an elective at my school which I took, it lasted the full year. Can't remember all that was taught more than 50 years ago. I have never had trouble balancing my cheque book or spending beyond my means. I do remember making a necktie.
In Jr high, we had a class called social studies. Don't remember all that was taught in that one either.

 

[Krimson]

Had economics and civics and made my kids take them as well as they were electives for them.

 

[sean]

Home ec was an elective at my school which I took, it lasted the full year. Can't remember all that was taught more than 50 years ago. I have never had trouble balancing my cheque book or spending beyond my means. I do remember making a necktie.
In Jr high, we had a class called social studies. Don't remember all that was taught in that one either.

Home Ec at my school was about homemaking...sewing, cooking, laundry, etc. I knew a couple guys who took it as an easy "A". But I got all that for free from my mom. She taught me and my sister how to do all that stuff when we were young. And I never had to take a shop/auto class because our dad taught us how to work on cars and around tools.

 

[Krimson]

Home Ec at my school was about homemaking...sewing, cooking, laundry, etc. I knew a couple guys who took it as an easy "A". But I got all that for free from my mom. She taught me and my sister how to do all that stuff when we were young. And I never had to take a shop/auto class because our dad taught us how to work on cars and around tools.

I took it because it was a class full of girls.

 

[TerryP]

had to do home ec for half

We had a large classroom that was mostly used for typing classes: likely three times the normal class room size (sq ft.) That room had two full sized kitchens: as in two ovens, the works. The class was eventually "faded out." Those kitchens still were used: quite a bit as I recall. About the same time those classes were discontinued the room next door was turned from a math lab to a computer lab. '81 - '83 area...

I remember a few guys taking the class: 90+ percent female. It's wild thinking back; I remember some pretty good food at times.

I'm tempted to go dig for old yearbooks just to see if I can find some pictures. But, that temptation won't last.

Yeah civics I was about to bring that up.
We had required civics.
mostly covered how the government was supposed to work and how government is very much like a cancer.
Also had a combo type semester,

I have a hard time remembering '84-'85. Two huge fights with GBS before anyone knew what it was.

But, now that you mention this ... first semester was government focused, second on life skills. Smart, now that I think about this...we were talking about budgets in the first semester.

 

[footballer]

Home Ec at my school was about homemaking...sewing, cooking, laundry, etc. I knew a couple guys who took it as an easy "A". But I got all that for free from my mom. She taught me and my sister how to do all that stuff when we were young. And I never had to take a shop/auto class because our dad taught us how to work on cars and around tools.

However I cook, whatever I cook the flavors and taste I try to emulate was learned from my Mother.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Our Civics teacher, Fred Gleason, was a good man. He had us all learn to write checks, balance a checkbook, file our taxes, register to vote and - for the boys - complete our Selective Service card. I agree, that and more should be a requirement.

 

[Rsedge72]

We had a large classroom that was mostly used for typing classes: likely three times the normal class room size (sq ft.)

Typing that was the other half of the home ec semester!!!!!

 

[Rsedge72]

I never had to take a shop/auto class because our dad taught us how to work on cars and around tools.

, my dad grew up working on my grandfathers race cars in the 50’s. He said he was going to teach me how to work on cars, and sat me down. Told me to make enough money to pay someone else to do it!!!! He hates working on any kind of car to this day. He’s 85 and just shakes his head when you talk about doing any kind of work on a car!!!

 

[PurlJam]

In Walker County? You’re joking, right?

 

[rick4bama]

We had a week class of this. Me and my buddy had to do a pie chart for a grade. I wish I did had a class because at a younger age I didn't have any book keeping smart.