In many countries students who leave high school have no understanding of how to manage their money. What do you think are the reasons? What can be done to improve this important skill?
There is a time in every young adult’s life that they must leave high school and begin the next phase of their lives. Unfortunately, a common stumbling block that many high school graduates face is an extreme dearth(缺乏) of skill when it comes to managing their finances(复述题目). Not only should the source of this issue be rooted out(消除), but improvements should be made in ensuring that young people understand how to take care of their money so as not to face dire straits(困境) in times of emergency(回应写作要求:将给出原因和解决方案). One of the significant contributors to the poor handling of money by young people is the difficulty today’s youth, especially students who graduate from high school, have in finding and maintaining gainful employment. In the past, when child labor laws were more lax(宽松的), or nonexistent(不存在的), a young person could find work in most fields in entry level or apprentice(学徒) positions. The ability to earn money, and be responsible for spending it, was nurtured at a young age in those times. However, nowadays, with the increasing demand from academic institutions, and the infrequent acceptance of people under 18 years old by employers, it has become far more difficult for young people to learn how to take care of their financial situation. (原因一) There has also been a reduction in the access to effective financial education from schools themselves. When our parents were in school, every high school student had to take a class called “Home Economics” which taught students the skills needed to manage a household, such as creating a budget, balancing accounts, and understanding income tax. Nowadays such classes do not exist and the closest thing that students receive in regard to(关于) an education related to finance is economics, which simply teaches basic economic principles from a bird’s eye view(鸟瞰). Such classes are of little practical use to a student’s daily life once they reach adulthood unless they choose to pursue a career in finance.(原因二) As bleak(凄凉的) as this situation may appear, not all hope is lost. Financial management skills can be learned at any age. I am in favor of public awareness campaigns to promote free online courses and research related to techniques the average person can use to take control of their financial future. Also, bringing back classes like Home Economics can be a useful tool in instilling(培养) a strong foundational(基础的) knowledge base and financial discipline(学科). With tools like these, I think modern high schoolers will be far better equipped to handle their money as they become full-fledged(完全成熟的) adults. (两个解决方案) In summary, lack of job opportunities and access to good financial education is responsible for young adults’ poor understanding of how to take care of their financial situation. Relevant courses should be available to address the problem.(总结)