1. Why is education about risk and decision-making important?

2. A key time in young lives
During high school, students set the pattern for their adult decision-making
Their choices — more so than earlier ones — have major effects on their adult lives
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

3. The world teenagers face has become more complex
Job requirements of a modern economy
More choices on health
Increases in credit and borrowing opportunities
New risks not fully present in earlier generations
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

4. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
The problem
High School students face new freedom
Will they manage freedom properly or take too many chances?
Four key areas: education, health, credit, risk
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

5. Educational choices and risks
Many students don’t understand opportunity cost or their choices fully
Affluent students may seldom be required to make hard choices
Poor students may think they have no choices
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

6. More education will be necessary
Occupational outlook: All but one of the 50 highest paying occupations will require a college degree
Other fast-growing occupations require high school and more
Occupational Outlook Handbook,
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

7. The knowledge-based economy
Rewards people with technical skills
Common occupations such as auto mechanics are now much more technical
Few high-paying jobs for the unskilled
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

8. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
Dropout rates a threat
High school dropouts are 8.8% of the population
Dropouts face reduced opportunity
African-American and Hispanic dropout rates significantly higher
Statistical Abstract of the United States : Table 255, “High School Dropouts by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

9. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
Education summary
Teens face many risks on education choices
Video 1 shows opportunity, and discourages dropping out
Statistical Abstract of the United States : Table 255, “High School Dropouts by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

10. Health choices and risks
Teenagers face key choices about their health
They make decisions that may affect their lives dramatically
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

11. Changing views on health
Formerly, we “left it up to the doctor”
Today, we are increasingly aware of how our choices affect health: diet, exercise, and smoking, for example
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

12. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
The risk of smoking
Teen years a key time for smoking decisions
Tobacco use may cause 440,000 deaths per year
CDC: Single most preventable cause of death
Smoking:
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

13. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
The risk of inactivity
Many health risks are correlated with levels of physical activity
CDC figures show
69% of year olds are physically active
Only 38% of year olds
Physical Inactivity:
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

14. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
Health summary
Those who make good health decisions promote their physical and financial well-being
Video 2 shows how excessive risks hurt health and wealth
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

15. Choices and risks involving credit
Teenagers face new risks
Credit more widely available than ever
Powerful media messages urge people to spend
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

16. Getting credit is no problem . . .
Card issuers seek younger customers
Fraction of 18- and 19-year olds having their own cards: 1/3 and rising
College students especially targeted
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

17. . . . managing credit can be a problem
Teen emphasis on “buying now” may overshadow “paying later”
Most (80%) don’t know how long until payoff if they only make minimum payment
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

18. Teenagers need credit skills
How to understand their credit reports and credit scores
How to read their credit statements
Informed consumers less likely to be hurt by identity theft
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

19. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
Credit summary
Teenagers need to understand that credit can be their best friend or their worst enemy
Video 3 helps teenagers understand credit
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

20. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
Decisions on risk
Teenagers have many new freedoms that bring risks
Driving, although important, is not the only one
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

21. Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?
Driving risk
Only 4.9% of licensed drivers are 19 or under
But they have 11.6% of the fatal accidents
Over twice the risk of general population
National Safety Council, Injury Facts 2003, in Statistical Abstract of the U.S , Table 1099
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

22. Helping teens understand insurance
Teenagers can control their insurance costs through careful risk management
Big expense, whether paid by teens or their parents
National Safety Council, Injury Facts 2003, in Statistical Abstract of the U.S , Table 1099
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

23. Helping teens manage risk
Teenagers are resistant to preaching and lectures about risky behavior
But they can learn about managing risk
Video 4 shows how
National Safety Council, Injury Facts 2003, in Statistical Abstract of the U.S , Table 1099
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?

24. In conclusion: the need for education
Left to their own, youth give less consideration to the consequences of risk than the average adult
Yet some early decisions have consequences far down the road
Important to reach students before they make key decisions
December 4, 2018
Why Is Education About Risk and Decision-Making Important?