Micromanaging money, introductions to the world of business and banking, and hands-on learning are key to the lessons being taught to Kern County high school students at the Career Technical Education Center in Bakersfield. A class about the basics of money and personal finance isn't commonly taught, but the knowledge is proving critical for students everywhere. 23ABC's Ruby Rivera spoke with some CTEC students to find out more.
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00:00 The majority of Kern County schools are back in session as students refresh on skills like
00:06 math and science.
00:07 The Kern County High School District is kicking it up a notch and is once again offering its
00:12 Career Technical Education Center.
00:14 23 ABC's Rupert Rivera tells us about the financial benefits that come with these classes.
00:20 Micro-managing money, introductions to the world of business and banking, and hands-on
00:24 learning.
00:25 These are all skills taught at a high school level right here in Bakersfield.
00:29 At the Career Technical Education Center, kids are taught the basics of money, a class
00:33 that isn't commonly offered but critical for students everywhere.
00:36 This will really help you with things that they don't teach you in everyday classes and
00:40 like stuff you're going to need like taxes and all that.
00:44 They have more time to show us these categories that we can at school.
00:49 At school you skim through it, but at CTECH you really get the foundations of what we're
00:54 doing.
00:55 Seniors Mina Richmond and Bailey Lechuga say when they realized that CTECH could guide
00:58 them into their dream careers, it was an easy decision to apply.
01:02 Students are taught how to use money, the definition of credit, and what a business
01:04 degree entails.
01:05 But they're also taught soft skills like public speaking, resume building, and presentations.
01:10 Business is the number one major in college, so I want kids to have an understanding of
01:14 what that looks like.
01:15 And then we really focus on the finance, so personal finance as well as business finance.
01:19 Denise Sardo has been teaching the business, banking, and financing class at CTECH for
01:23 the last eight years.
01:24 Ms. Sardo says students are never fully exposed on how to be an adult until they become one.
01:28 Ms. Sardo says her experience in teaching this class has taught her that each student
01:32 is more than capable of participating in a class like this and all they need is the opportunity.
01:37 Seeing that growth in certain individuals, sometimes you're shocked by, right?
01:41 The shy student that wouldn't even speak in class, and then I go to internship and they're
01:45 the best performing student.
01:47 Ms. Sardo says questions about money and credit are typically asked frequently, where most
01:51 students know what a credit card is, but not what credit is.
01:53 Hands-on activities are done with fake money, things like how to count and interact with
01:57 currency in a banking world, keeping track of a bank account, and learning how to manage
02:01 money while paying basic utilities.
02:03 Mina Richman has only been in the class for about a week now, but is grateful to be participating.
02:08 Richman says these skills are used in everyday life, and because she's learning about the
02:11 finance world, she feels like she'll be better prepared for adulthood once she graduates.
02:15 If you don't know, sometimes that can work against you and you can end up set back.
02:21 If you would have just been taught certain skills beforehand, you could have been able
02:26 to handle the situation a lot better.
02:29 CTEC is offered to both juniors and seniors within the Kern High School District.
02:33 Applications open in November, and student acceptance is then determined by school officials.
02:38 For more information on CTEC, visit our website, Turn23.com.
02:42 In Bakersfield, Rubira Vera, 23ABC News, connecting you.