Schools Demand Financial Classes for Students
By: Jenna Zibton
Updated: November 24, 2009
There's an increase in one type of ArkLaTex class. Shreve Island, Westwood and Waller Elementary Schools are just three participating.
"It's pretty fun" says Kailey Morgan, a fifth grader at Shreve Island Elementary School. Her classmates get excited when they know Red River Bank branch manager Kendra Wheeler is teaching their class.
"I think that's it's going to be pretty cool" says Joseph Presley, also a Shreve Island fifth grader.
Kids happy about going to school, eagerly asking questions.
Wheeler teaches all the school's fifth graders and says even adults could benefit from the monthly lessons. "We certainly do have alot of challenges ahead of us in turn of our economy and I feel education is key just being real proactive and starting with the kids that are going to be taking care of us one day" she says.
The curriculum has grown from last year using hands-on techniques teaching lessons like the history of money, why we should save and budgeting.
Amy Avery set up the classes. "We had a whole lesson on the difference between wants and needs and alot of the children were really surprised that money just doesn't grow on the trees or come from their parents that they have to work for it and budget to get what they want or save for it" she says.
"They're telling us all this stuff that's preparing us for the future" says Morgan.
A financial future that's looking brighter thanks to the new lessons.
"You can never start early enough when it comes to teaching kids about money" says Wheeler. She already started teaching her six-year olds.
Red River Bank even has a university" for older students and quarterly classes for adults. Wheeler says since the economy has fallen, more people are taking advantage of the classes.
To get more information, call Red River Bank.
