There’s a House bill (HB 1412) presently being decided in the North Dakota legislature that may result in an amendment to the Century Code changing the state’s education curriculum. This particular proposed bill is described as: “House Education Committee Hearing for House Bill 1412, which relates to personal finance instruction at the middle school level.”

OK, while I admit to being nearly as old as dirt and having raised our two “middle school”-aged children only slightly less than 20 years ago, I still find the concept of teaching 5th, 6th or even 7th graders “personal finance” laughable. In what context or by what examples do they expect 10-, 11- and 12-year-old children might apply these “financial concepts” into their world? Unless of course there is an underground child labor camp no one is aware of somewhere in the backwoods of North Dakota, what in the sam hill will middle school children do with their newfound knowledge? Teach it to their budget-busting parents, perhaps?

Can’t you just see it now – Mom, Dad and 12-year-old Junior all sitting around the dining room table together with Junior patiently explaining to dear old Mom and Dad, “No, no, no! Dad, you only bring home $300 a week and, Mom, you only bring home $250 a week. Your expenses are presently $700 a week. If you want to pay the mortgage and save for my college fund, too, we need to look at your expenses and make cuts.”

For the last few years, I have actually gone to high school officials and asked, “Why are there no personal-finance classes being offered?” so when Johnny does get that after school job or Susie gets that preauthorized credit card, they will each know how to behave responsibly with the extra money or the “OH! I must have it!” “magic” card? Know what I was told? It varied between “there’s not enough interest” and “we’d need to revamp our curriculum” to the standard “I don’t know, really” followed by a shrug of the shoulders, at which time I was usually summarily dismissed.

Don’t misconstrue my skepticism about implementing a “financial concepts” program for pre-teens in the schools as being against parental teaching. I am very much in favor of parents teaching their children about earning money and being responsible with the money they earn. In fact, I think the sooner, the better.

Our children were “earning” allowances by the time they could make their beds and pick up their clothes. Saturday was always “pay day” for them, and part of that was counting the number of coins, learning what their denominations were, and then promptly depositing those earned coins into their respective piggy banks until they reached a certain amount to buy whatever it was they had saved for. Once our son reached about 14 when things he wanted cost more, we took it to the next level and he was allowed to have a paper route. Was he allowed to have all the money he made? No, a portion went to a savings account, while the other portion went to what he found necessary to squander it on. This taught him far more than a class he would go glassy-eyed and probably fall asleep in at age 10, 11 or 12.

Now they want to teach financial concepts to 5th graders? Have kids matured that much in the past 12 to 15 years? Sure, and while you’re at it, why not throw in a video on how to use condoms. At least that won’t bore them to death. The idea of teaching finance is exceptional and one I definitely believe in. However, offer it at an age-appropriate level to students who will actually benefit from such a program – like, try starting at perhaps the 10th grade? That’s when teenagers in North Dakota and Minnesota are beginning to drive, becoming interested in how they look, the clothes they wear, the bling they have, all the new gizmos such as iPods and cell phones and music and going places with their friends. That’s when learning personal financial responsibility will mean something more than simply stretching their hand out for Mom and Dad to plunk a twenty-dollar bill into.

Another class that should be mandatory for each and every student with raging hormones and over the age of 16 for certain is learning what real-life relationships are and how to communicate with parents, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, customers, and people in general so that the next generation of adults will also learn how to compromise without unnecessary aggressiveness or bravado. Polite behavior has seemingly evaporated in today’s world filled with folks just as self-centered and wanting as nature has made the majority of us. Being polite does not take much more time than being rude, but it seems all too often it is far too easy to revert to the nasty route versus the more civil manner of handling everyday interactions. We

need to learn how to communicate in a non-threatening and a non-demeaning manner, especially within relationships that are important to us. Given the divorce rate in this country, is it any wonder the generations following the “boomers” have far less successful relationships?

CHANGES ARE INEVITABLE

The FM Extra has changed ownership in the last couple of months. John Kolness and Dennis Ding, the Extra’s original owners, realized that what we have all worked diligently to expand and grow these last eight years needed more minds and bodies to continue to grow and expand. We are all excited about the potential to reach more readers in our local areas, as well as having new readers discover The FM Extra in new and future areas. As with all else in life that doesn’t stagnate, we will have some changes as well.

As one of the original “cast members” and first writer for the Extra, writing two columns a week for 52 weeks of the last eight years has left me feeling a tad scotched at times. So, while I have always enjoyed bringing new faces and people for you to learn more about with “Behind the Scenes,” it will be nice to share cover/feature stories with writers who will bring new insights and ideas to you, our readers. The last “Behind the Scenes” piece will be in this edition. However, my column “Right On the Edge” shall remain, and on occasion, I will still bring a ‘behind the scenes’ look to your attention about the many outstanding individuals we have within our communities.

For those of you who have emailed over the years suggesting people for me to bring to the forefront, I thank you many times over. Please continue to email your ideas and thoughts regarding current issues facing all of us. Public input is literally the lifeblood of every media outlet in circulation and is vitally needed, especially letters to the editor or to any one of our writers that can be reprinted. Just remember, we need a first and last name and phone number to verify the letter’s authenticity.

Responses email: sooasheim@aol.com