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Show 2 THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, August 13, 1987 Bankers Turn Teacher At Utah High Schools SALT LAKE High school students have always been good at spending money Utah bankers are now helping them understand the importance ot saving, budgeting and planning for their future During the last school year, 6,084 students in 77 Utah high schools parclasses ticipated in banker-taugh- t k The course, Your Bank and You, is taught by professional bankers from banks in the schools area It is taught for one hour daily during the week from material designed and provided by the Utah Bankers Assn Over the course of sven years since the course has been offered, more than 34,000 high school students have taken the t lasses According to Lawrence W Alder, executive vice president of the Utah Bankers Assn (LBA), banker-teacher-s one-wee- use videos, slides, workbooks and special student heckbooks to teach the high schoolers about writing and recor- - NEA Says - Ideal Class Size Is 15 LOS ANGELES How large should a class be for teachers to be able to develop the full potential of all their students9 The average classroom, sas the National Education Association, should have no more than 15 students But the nations public schools have a long way to go to keep the average class anywhere near the figure, according to a new NEA survey of teachers The average class size for both elementary and high schools now hovers near the mark, but nearly half Americas teachers report classrooms of more than 25 students, with nearly 12 percent of high school teachers reporting classes of 35 or more Smaller classes have a positive effect on student attitudes and behavior, teacher morale, and classroom procedures, says NEA President Mary Hatwood Futrell Large classes promote anonymity and help increase the dropout rate -now near 30 percent. Futrell notes that the emerging baby boomlet of the late 80s could very well create pressure to increase class size even higher - as well as contribute to the ongoing teacher shortage problem A recent Gallup poll indicates that the public wants the size of classes reduced The average class size for high school teachers and for special subject area elementary teachers stood at 26 pupils in 1986, an increase from 23 pupils m 1981, according to the new NEA survey, Status of the American Public School Teacher, 1983-8- 6 e than 41 percent of high teachers and elementary teacners in music, art, and other specialized subjects report pupil loads over 25 Almost 10 percent say Continued on next page schot. ding checks, reconciling bank statements and settng financial goals In many cases, this course is the first practical experience these students have had with banking, so we try to provide a hands-o- n program, Mr Alder said The classes cover many subject areas, including- Government influences on credit, interest rates and money availability, The basics of writing checks and reconciling a checking account, Emphasis on saving for the future and the types of savings accounts and interest rates available, and Using credit wisely to achieve personal financial goals Alder said 191 bankers from 30 of Utahs 44 banks have taught the classes during the past year This is a big commitment of time by these bankers and their sponsoring banks However, they unanimously remark that it is a very rewarding exAlder said perience for them, Many of the bankers have taught the program since the beginning seven years ago This year the UBA introduced a new computer softward component called Money and Banking to the Your Bank and You program The computer Money and Banking program explores 11 ares of banking, including savings and checking accounts, credit, interest rates and financial planning The tutorial software programs are designed for classroom use and are accompanied by instruction manual so students can use the program at their own speed and comprehension level schools are using and Banking as part of their curriculum The Utah Bankers Association has authorized each participating school to reproduce the copyrighted software io ac commodate the number of available computers in each school For further information regarding the Your Bank and You or the Money and Banking software program, contact the Utah Bankers Association, 185 South State, Suite 201, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 or call Seventy-nin- Money 3 e |