What’s Right With Our Schools: Howard Students Get Lessons in Finance
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – If you start investing at an early age passive income can really add up! Students at Howard High got a timely lesson in saving for their future. That’s a financially prudent example of what’s right with our schools.
Mika Yah Israel is a personal finance teacher.
He explains, “Here at Howard High School, I teach personal finance for 9th and 10th graders. Here we do talk about money management, being able to zero base budget, and wealth; health and wealth.
He continues, “So, we actually talked about it the fact that in certain areas of fourth graders, I actually already taught this. So, it just depends upon, you know, the dynamic of where it is that you live, the demographics, different things like that. So, it’s our goal here to be able to educate them, to be able to shrink the wealth gap.”
Sophomore Karielle Sutton says, “I’ve learned that saving and budgeting can actually give you more financial freedom than take it away. It gives you more Financial Freedom, and also your money personality can affect you in multiple ways in your future, and that’s why it’s important to learn.”
Mikah Yah Israel adds, “I love the fact that the local credit unions Banks and all, people around or EPB, a lot of people are actually stepping in Tennessee Valley. I definitely appreciate them for stepping in to help with the financial literacy aspect and making it more practical for them to see people that look like them, you know from the community that’s actually giving back, you know so it’s awesome to have for sure.”
Sophomore Marques Blackburn says, “What I learned about being a personal finance was the five foundations, how to spend your money wisely and correctly and not overdo and wisely place a budget so you don’t overspend your money and get yourself from big debt.”
Mikah Yah Israel concludes, “I would just want for them to be in a better position than their family. I tell everybody, you know, here at the school we do face an impoverished issue. Everyone, around 96 percent here, everybody lives in poverty. So, the main goal, being the inner-city school and all for me, will be able to have them to start off in the middle class or to be able to at least leave a trust fund or leave something some leg up for the future generations.”
