Yet the average American has net worth less than 50K. Many folks have negative net worth with no hope of anything better than a paycheck to paycheck lifestyle. We can do so much better.==============================

We need to be teaching life skills.  Perhaps starting as early as middle school.  How does rent work.  How a mortgage works.  What is withholding.  How to budget.  How to buy a car.  Familiarize kids with helpful budgeting websites.  Real life stuff that will pay societal dividends down the road.

A lot of this could be easily incorporated into existing math curriculums.  Kids simply aren't getting this at home, even in stable two parent households.  Properly designed, it could get kids enthusiastic about math who otherwise wouldn't be.  And it should be fun and interesting for everyone, because it has a direct impact on THEM and their futures.