Why did BOE not demand Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement

[Anonymous]

It seems from the relatively shallow BOE presentation that the thought MCPS staff put into SMOB O'Looney's request (towards the beginning of the school year) was minimal. It's hard to fathom that they didn't touch base on it with her several times over the year, but it looked from the meeting exchange as though thry had not done so -- she was left grasping to formulate alternative approaches on the spot instead of being able to draw from a robust set of well-researched options. Makes me wonder if they did with certain other board members to know they would have enough support to recommend against it.

I wish an approach had been taken to make achieving some standard of Financial Literacy a graduation requirement, allowing independent study /SSL experience with a test out for those who wished to avoid taking (and passing) a class that might keep them from a desired elective. That seemed like an obvious answer to me, but without its having been evaluated & presented as an option, the proceedings inevitably went as they did - kicking the cam down the road (and possibly hoping to sweep it under the rug if more independent voices like O'Looney's are not on the board at the time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems from the relatively shallow BOE presentation that the thought MCPS staff put into SMOB O'Looney's request (towards the beginning of the school year) was minimal. It's hard to fathom that they didn't touch base on it with her several times over the year, but it looked from the meeting exchange as though thry had not done so -- she was left grasping to formulate alternative approaches on the spot instead of being able to draw from a robust set of well-researched options. Makes me wonder if they did with certain other board members to know they would have enough support to recommend against it.

I wish an approach had been taken to make achieving some standard of Financial Literacy a graduation requirement, allowing independent study /SSL experience with a test out for those who wished to avoid taking (and passing) a class that might keep them from a desired elective. That seemed like an obvious answer to me, but without its having been evaluated & presented as an option, the proceedings inevitably went as they did - kicking the cam down the road (and possibly hoping to sweep it under the rug if more independent voices like O'Looney's are not on the board at the time).

If MCPS was kicking the can down the road, my interpretation of the reason was because the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence may have unintended consequences, and MCPS was reluctant to add an extra graduation requirement that may make it harder for some students to graduate. It is good content, but requiring a semester class is a narrow approach that may not work.

[Anonymous]

Who the F cares what the teens think? Did we really ask high school students - hey do you want another required course? Shocked they wouldn't be excited about it.

How about we take away a year of math requirement and make this class an entire year. It's pitiful that Calc is more in need this day in age than a finance class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who the F cares what the teens think? Did we really ask high school students - hey do you want another required course? Shocked they wouldn't be excited about it.

How about we take away a year of math requirement and make this class an entire year. It's pitiful that Calc is more in need this day in age than a finance class.

The aforementioned Quantitative Literacy class is already a year-long math class, which will count toward the math graduation requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems from the relatively shallow BOE presentation that the thought MCPS staff put into SMOB O'Looney's request (towards the beginning of the school year) was minimal. It's hard to fathom that they didn't touch base on it with her several times over the year, but it looked from the meeting exchange as though thry had not done so -- she was left grasping to formulate alternative approaches on the spot instead of being able to draw from a robust set of well-researched options. Makes me wonder if they did with certain other board members to know they would have enough support to recommend against it.

I wish an approach had been taken to make achieving some standard of Financial Literacy a graduation requirement, allowing independent study /SSL experience with a test out for those who wished to avoid taking (and passing) a class that might keep them from a desired elective. That seemed like an obvious answer to me, but without its having been evaluated & presented as an option, the proceedings inevitably went as they did - kicking the cam down the road (and possibly hoping to sweep it under the rug if more independent voices like O'Looney's are not on the board at the time).

If MCPS was kicking the can down the road, my interpretation of the reason was because the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence may have unintended consequences, and MCPS was reluctant to add an extra graduation requirement that may make it harder for some students to graduate. It is good content, but requiring a semester class is a narrow approach that may not work.

...which is why a test-out option via SSL or independent study was an obvious choice. A class for those who wish to have elective instruction and a test-out for those needing/wanting to preserve the elective slot for a different course of study. Still would have ensured a basis of financial literacy as one enters adulthood, preventing a multitude of societal ills, which was O'Looney's objective.

That MCPS didn't prepare that option for the BOE's consideration is pitiful, and pitiable for those who will be left more likely to experience financial hardship.

Regarding the four year math requirement, modification of the rule to except any student who successfully has completed a college-level course (e.g., Calculus) would reduce the credit burden and re-open elective pathways. This is a MD dictate, not MCPS, and would have to be changed at the state level.

[Anonymous]

It’s a horrible idea. I don’t think a kid who will be out of the system in a year soon is in the best position to make the case. She did it for the college essay. If we allow every SMOB to mandate a “necessary” class- please help us.

My husband would love every kid to learn how to change a tire, fix a law mower etc. my MIL thinks home Econ should be mandatory. Where does it end? Some things kids can learn outside of school.

[Anonymous]

If MCPS was kicking the can down the road, my interpretation of the reason was because the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence may have unintended consequences, and MCPS was reluctant to add an extra graduation requirement that may make it harder for some students to graduate. It is good content, but requiring a semester class is a narrow approach that may not work.


yes- this is what convinced them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many parents said their kids wanted room for other electives.

maybe they can trim health back to 1 semester and append this otherwise there are too many silly requirements

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a horrible idea. I don’t think a kid who will be out of the system in a year soon is in the best position to make the case. She did it for the college essay. If we allow every SMOB to mandate a “necessary” class- please help us.

My husband would love every kid to learn how to change a tire, fix a law mower etc. my MIL thinks home Econ should be mandatory. Where does it end? Some things kids can learn outside of school.

Agree 100%!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a horrible idea. I don’t think a kid who will be out of the system in a year soon is in the best position to make the case. She did it for the college essay. If we allow every SMOB to mandate a “necessary” class- please help us.

My husband would love every kid to learn how to change a tire, fix a law mower etc. my MIL thinks home Econ should be mandatory. Where does it end? Some things kids can learn outside of school.

That is really insulting to Ms O’Looney. She did a better job this year of asking questions of administrators and communicating with the public than most, if not all, the adult board members. Financial literacy is a real thing that can have way more of an impact on one’s life, and one’s children’s lives, than any other subject taught at school. There’s a TON of companies that prey on people who don’t know anything about finances, and it leads to debt that people can almost never get out from under. Kids can get trapped on Day 1 of becoming an adult if they go out and sign up for credit cards, loans… go to payday lenders… and not understand what they’re getting into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a horrible idea. I don’t think a kid who will be out of the system in a year soon is in the best position to make the case. She did it for the college essay. If we allow every SMOB to mandate a “necessary” class- please help us.

My husband would love every kid to learn how to change a tire, fix a law mower etc. my MIL thinks home Econ should be mandatory. Where does it end? Some things kids can learn outside of school.

That is really insulting to Ms O’Looney. She did a better job this year of asking questions of administrators and communicating with the public than most, if not all, the adult board members. Financial literacy is a real thing that can have way more of an impact on one’s life, and one’s children’s lives, than any other subject taught at school. There’s a TON of companies that prey on people who don’t know anything about finances, and it leads to debt that people can almost never get out from under. Kids can get trapped on Day 1 of becoming an adult if they go out and sign up for credit cards, loans… go to payday lenders… and not understand what they’re getting into.

There are also a lot of people who prey on those who don’t know how to fix cars, understand their heating system, work on their mowers etc. Financial literacy is important and I think they can fit a lot of that into middle school/HS health requirements etc. The whole idea of a SMOB with full voting rights irks me to no end. All of them are more concerned about their college application then what happens at MCPS long term which is why it’s dumb they get a vote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many parents said their kids wanted room for other electives.

maybe they can trim health back to 1 semester and append this otherwise there are too many silly requirements

They just expanded Health from one to two semesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many parents said their kids wanted room for other electives.

maybe they can trim health back to 1 semester and append this otherwise there are too many silly requirements

They just expanded Health from one to two semesters.

I’ve also found that these forced elective classes like health provide an insane amount of busy homework. Teach them yoga to be nice to others etc- rather than having them write endless papers every week.

[Anonymous]

The expanded health requirement comes from the state, not MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If MCPS was kicking the can down the road, my interpretation of the reason was because the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence may have unintended consequences, and MCPS was reluctant to add an extra graduation requirement that may make it harder for some students to graduate. It is good content, but requiring a semester class is a narrow approach that may not work.

yes- this is what convinced them.

Again, misses the point -- MCPS didn't bother to prepare any alternatives to an in-class requirement, which they knew would be voted down, in line with their recommendation. They effectively abandoned a good idea -- ensuring that graduates have an understanding of personal finance -- with the straw man of that having to be accomplished only with a class. O'Looney and one or two others were left to try to construct a solution on the spot, themselves, offering amendments to try to incorporate ideas like SSL hours or the like. Of course, the other BOE members could then vote against these, saying that they hadn't been evaluated by MCPS staff, which the MCPS professionals/higher-ups know should have been part of their preparation/presentation in the first place.

Absolutely shameful.