IRVINGTON — Robin Clark’s 8th grade Algebra students can “talk the talk” when it comes to the world of financial management and the Irvington Community Middle School students recently impressed a member of the U.S. House of Representatives with their command of financial terminology and concepts. So much so that Indiana 7th District Rep. Andre Carson enthused, “You guys are sharp!” during his question-and-answer session with the students on April 5.
Thanks to an invitation from Mrs. Clark., Rep. Carson paid a visit to one of her 8th grade “Financial Friday” class sessions. Last year, three groups in her Algebra class won the statewide Stock Market Game. This year, Mrs. Clark was asked to lead the Capitol Hill Challenge — the Stock Market Game played on a national level. She contacted Rep. Carson’s office, as Irvington is in the 7th Congressional District, requesting that the congressman come to Irvington Community Middle School and speak to one of her Financial Friday classes. Financial literacy is a subject that is close to Rep. Carson’s heart, as he has a significant interest in young people being conversational in the subject of finance.
“Where you guys are [with financial literacy] is phenomenal,” the congressman lauded the students. “Many Americans don’t know what terms like ‘dividends’ are.” Mrs. Clark’s students did. He continued, “This school is an incubator: it’s a way to prepare our future leaders.” Rep. Carson suggested that “the next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey are in this school.” During his talk, he referenced the high performance of students in Finland, and he made a profound comment about the great responsibility of K-12 educators — that they are in the business of “nation building.”
Aside from the students’ demonstration of their proficiency in financial literacy, they inquired about the congressman’s role. For example, they asked about his congressional office’s budget and what it’s like to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Shrewdly, they also sought a stock tip, asking, “What stocks should we invest in?” Rep. Carson gracefully declined to answer.
