Posted on: Monday, November 17, 2003

ISLAND VOICES
Economics must be retained

By Jeanne Skog
President and CEO of Maui Economic Development Board Inc. and chairwoman of the Hawai'i Council on Economic Education

The implications of the recently publicized modifications to the high school graduation requirements reducing social studies credits from four to three are of considerable concern.

This reduction will greatly affect the future of economics in our schools — an important but often overlooked course that is essential for a knowledgeable high school graduate. The federal government, in fact, lists economics as a core subject in the No Child Left Behind Act.

Eliminating the fourth social studies credit will not only reduce the incentive for schools to offer economics, it will also reduce the opportunity for students to take economics.

This is a frightening thought. After more than a decade of economic stagnation and with ever-more challenging decisions facing us about resources and budgets, it is essential that Hawai'i produce students with a firmer grasp of economic and financial concepts. Armed with this knowledge and skill, they have a greater chance of making better personal, career, business and community choices.

As important, economics can foster civic engagement in the very processes that impact the choices we as residents are offered. With ongoing lament about the apathy in our voting population, restoring broad-based civic engagement is critical to our future health as a community.

Alice M. Rivlin, former vice chairwoman of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System, emphasized this need: "Without a basic understanding of how the economy works, what the essential terms and concepts are, the average citizen is likely to feel completely left out of any conversation, whether in the media or around the water cooler, about what is happening in the economy and what to do about it."

We all want our students to have a well-rounded, empowering education. The proposed modifications outlined by the graduation requirements task force go beyond an increase in fine arts, foreign language, or career and technical education: They threaten the existence of economics, a course that develops critical thinking and decision-making skills — disciplines that are imperative to the balanced education that all Hawai'i students deserve.