Business Math for Youth

In their book Steinerian Economics, Gary Lamb and Sarah Hearn write, “…an impersonal relation to…money made possible the innovation of financial systems, in which money is treated as a commodity and becomes an object of trade and business and onto itself (p. 235).” Indeed, turning money into an abstraction has degraded its purpose in society which is to facilitate trade between people.

What has been the consequence? We, particularly in America, have become a culture in which many people pursue money for its own sake rather than for the experiences and initiatives it can support. The ultra wealthy seek to get ever more when they don’t need it and the poor work like slaves because they don’t have enough. Meanwhile, the middle class disappears. Everybody suffers. Yes, even the richest suffer when they ideate constantly on their money. Not to mention, revolutions are bred in the cesspools of societies whose values are in the wrong place. Just recall the revolutions of France and Russia, among others.

So, what have youth to do with this?

That’s why it’s so important to start teaching Business Math in middle school. In that block, we steward students into a healthy relationship with what money is and what it can do. First of all, we learn how trade develops brotherhood. You work for my needs and I work for yours. Properly done, this becomes the antidote to war. Next, we understand how money stands in for value, in other words, labor. We learn what money truly is. Third, we learn about the value of investment as a means to create better goods and services for society. The difference between consumption and investment debt are also now highlighted. Our goal in the end is to leave students inspired about what money can do as opposed to a fearful or covetous relationship to it. Isn’t that what we want for our children?

Our Business Math block is available on our site. The Live Zoom Enrichment counterpart happens this school year from Jan. 20 – Feb. 10, 2025. We are currently enrolling students for that. Scroll down to the bottom of the 6th Grade Curriculum Page for more details.