THE FORGOTTEN CONSUMER

Why is New York State Public Education continuing to neglect the American Consumer?  The growth of the American Economy depends upon the American Consumer.  The recovery from our current financial crisis depends upon the American Consumer.  Poor decisions by the American  Consumers
were the  major cause of the current  financial crisis.  Why then do the New York  State Public Schools refuse to teach consumer education to students who will become American Consumers?

This neglect is simply the unintentional consequence of a well intended tunnel focus on math and science.  The New York State Education Department had a Bureau of Business and  Distrubutive  Education dedicated to the improvement and promotion of industry and personal use business programs in the public schools throughout the State.  Popular courses like Business Law and Typewriting were taken by  many college entrance students as well as  those planning to enter the work force upon graduation.

In 1980, funding emphasis was placed on Math and Science neglecting Business Education until shortly after the 21st Cenury when  the Bureau of Business Education was completely eliminated; the Bookkeeping, Business Law and Secretarial courses were moved up to the Community College Programs;  and Consumer Education couses became almost non existent in the Public Schools Curriculums.  The unintentional consequence is the sad fact that the nearly 40% of the students that do not go on to college have no basic training in business skills for entry level jobs or to cope with the challenges they must face to survive as consumers.  Another unintentional consequence is that those going on to college that do not take business courses must also face the survival challenges of a consumer without the necessary business skills; especially the knowledge of vital consumer laws.

Consumer law is essential for every consumer to successfully, manage their personal business affairs.  Even at the minimum salary range, the average consumer makes over a million dollars in a lifetime which they must manage to survive.  One of the major causes of the current credit crisis was the lack of consumer business skills resulting in failure to honor binding contracts that the consumer could not afford.  An educated consumer is not only good for the consumer, it is good for the  country.

It is the responsibility of public school education to prepare students with the basic skills to manage their personal business affairs as well as become a productive part of the national economy.  Over emphasis on one aspect of society creates an imbalance that is harmful to all of society.  We don't have to rebuild the "teter toter" to correct the situation, we simply have to move some weights.  One very simple but most helpful move might be to add Consumer Law to the mandated curriculum for all high school students.
(Perhaps advanced placement courses for college credit could be more properly postponed until college as these courses might only be useful and helpful to those going on to college, allowing colleges to fulfill their responsibility and the high schools to fulfill their responsibility)