PELHAM — A Pelham legislator wants to make personal finance, markets and other business-related topics a full-year requirement for New Hampshire students to graduate from high school.

"We are in a financial crisis and a lot of people do not understand it," said Rep. Shaun Doherty, R-Pelham.

Doherty reasons that students educated in business will, in the future, be more able to steer clear of the debt and other pitfalls plaguing people in the recession, as well as understand financial matters.

Doherty's bill is in the early stages. The language has yet to be finalized.

Kenneth Relihan, state social studies consultant with the Department of Education, said that in general, the department is not very excited about the Legislature mandating curriculum requirements for graduation. The state board focuses attention on setting a balanced curriculum.

As it is, New Hampshire students must complete a minimum of 20 credits, including 14 required credits and six electives, to graduate.

Among the required classes is a half-credit economics class. The state recommends to districts that it include content on personal finance and markets but, ultimately, it is up to the districts to determine the content.

Relihan said many states in New England are looking at legislation similar to Doherty's, but New Hampshire, with its half-credit economics requirement, is already much farther along than those other states.

Doherty said he thinks the state needs to go farther with the requirement, boosting it to a full credit — a full year as opposed to a half-year — and spell out required content related to financial literacy and markets.

Doherty has an ally in Jim Dowding, the vice president of the New Hampshire Business Education Association, who calls the bill an excellent idea.

Dowding, who teaches marketing and finance at Rivier College, said many students come to college without knowing the basics about finance.

"The business community is finding that students are not informed about contracts, how to obtain and maintain credit, and stay out of credit trouble — some of the things we take for granted," Dowding said. "Somewhere there has been a breakdown and students aren't learning this."

That lack of knowledge can lead to financial trouble when they leave school, he said.

Pelham Superintendent Frank Bass said he can't specifically comment on Doherty's legislation because he hasn't seen it. In concept, it has merit, he said.

"Is there merit in learning about financial matters? Yes," Bass said. "Does that need to be articulated in a course requirement — I'm not sure."

ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.