[rayhendricks]

We need more VTSAX and less english majors. Start saving young and income doesn't really matter if your trying to FIRE.

Also healthy eating habits and information about birth control should be taught in addition to financial literacy and at the expense of the current curriculum, but it is not because politics (both left and right here).

[mellosouls]

I'd agree with most of that; my point is there are many years of education - investing a significant amount of that in knowledge about the complexities of financial markets is utterly irrelevant to most people's lives; Maths and English are far more important at a deeper level over a life lived than bloody stocks and shares.

[rayhendricks]

How is knowledge of the markets utterly irrelevant to most people's lives?

Knowing the reasoning behind not trying to time the market will allow you to have the moral foritude to not sell your retirement fund when the market is freaking out, like it did this spring. That is much more valuable knowledge for most people then knowing higher math and English literature.

Another place that the education system is totally worthless is healthcare. Do the schools teach us to contact our insurance companies for interaction Id numbers to see if a provider is in network and then proce we contacted 6months later...hah no. Yet just this last week I had two different providers offices try and schedule me for an appointment costing $160-$200 that subsequently my insurance would not pay for. However the in-network rate is $10. Yes this is a mess but even though it is a mess education is instead trying to teach a classical liberal arts education which most people neither want nor need.

We need educational reform in this country and significant cuts to the educational system could be exactly what is needed as a wake-up call.

[mellosouls]

How is knowledge of the markets utterly irrelevant to most people's lives?

Misquote. "knowledge of the complexities of the financial markets...". Again, I've acknowledged the importance of basic financial education; deeper compulsory coverage would just displace other more useful subjects.

Another place that the education system is totally worthless is healthcare. Do the schools teach us to contact our insurance companies for interaction Id numbers to see if a provider is in network...[clipped]

I wouldn't know as I live in a different country, but perhaps at least in this instance the problem is not your education system but your healthcare...

[anm89]

I know several people with university English degrees who receive government assistance. I would guarantee you that they disagree.