“The Fourth ‘R’ – ‘The Real World'”

I recently took part in a conference call hosted by Robert Duvall and the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) announcing their “Report Card – Survey of the States: Economic, Personal Finance, and Entrepreneurship Education in Our Nation’s Schools in 2007.”

The upshot? Kids are not learning what Mr. Duvall refers to as “The Fourth ‘R’ – ‘The Real World.'” The report notes that “the majority of students aren’t receiving the essential real-life economic skills they need to become knowledgeable consumers, prudent savers and investors, and productive members of the workforce.”

It’s this fourth “R” that is arguably as important as the other three. (You remember Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic.) It’s so exciting to be a part of those in the vanguard of getting this most important message out, particularly to very young children, so that we can help cement behaviors that will serve them well throughout their lives.

John