Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/5139
students will be tempted with credit cards the minute they graduate, says Kenny Chen, an SDEA member who uses the curriculum in his economics classes at Patrick Henry High School. “When they go to college they will walk through the student union and there will be vendors in carts and ki- osks offering them credit cards with giveaways. Students think that when they turn 18 they’ll start working, get a car, rent an apartment and use a credit card to cover any deficit. But they need to learn that racking up debt can have drastic consequences. Just one late pay- ment can stay on their credit report for seven years. Hopefully this will make them think about the lifestyle they want to lead.” His students, who recently ended the A wealth of resources > The state Department of Education has launched an online library on its website listing numerous – and mostly free – money-managing sources for k-12 teachers, students and parents. www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/fl/finlitk12.asp > The California Council on Economic Education offers a web-based program that teaches financial and economic education through animated vignettes. www.moneywiseteen.org > The California Jump$tart Coalition encourages curriculum that ensures the basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience. www. jumpstartcoalition.org > The public-private partnership between the state Department of Education, State Board of Equalization member Betty Yee and Visa Inc. developed a free, NFL-themed money- management video game called Financial Football. www.practicalmoneyskills.com/ games/trainingcamp study unit, have already put the infor- mation to good use. Some say they have helped parents with filing college fi- nancial aid forms. Others have re- searched buying cars or filed their own tax returns. Cassie Pugh, 18, says she is now more aware of “wants versus needs” and is going to cut back on her spend- ing. Once she started budgeting, she was startled to learn that her cof fee habit at Starbucks was costing close to $80 per month. Mary Nooristani vows she will avoid credit card debt. “I am not going to be tempted with free things. They try and get you on a hot day with free ice cream, but it’s not free if you sign for a card with a 20 percent interest rate.” top left: Government and economics teacher and United Teachers Los Angeles member Eduardo Lopez works with Carmen Gonzalez at Roosevelt High School. oppoSite: Joanique Patten and Eric Kaisa listen to a financial literacy lesson at San Lorenzo Adult School. 22 California Educator | november 2009