OTTUMWA — At one time, most Ottumwa High School students took a “Freshman Skills” class. It included information about credit card debt and other life skills kids would end up needing, especially in a depressed economy.

That class is no longer offered.

“Students were scheduled into Freshman Skills for one quarter, and they had five different components with five different teachers for about nine days each [component],” said OHS Principal Steve Hanson. “That included nine days of financial literacy with Mr. [Mike] Cardin.”

But overall, the setup was too fragmented, said Hanson.

“It didn’t seem to smoothly accomplish the set objective, giving students the skills they’d need to be successful in high school. We decided a better strategy would be to get teachers to embed those necessary skills in their courses,” he said.

And they will gain some financial knowledge, he said.

“Economics is a requirement for graduation. They’ll learn basic economic principles, like supply and demand,” Hanson said. “All students who have an Ottumwa High School diploma have had to pass a course in economics.”

Depending on which course they sign up for, teens may learn about credit cards, college loans or how to run a business.

There’s no requirement at Van Buren County schools, but the available course focuses even more on personal financial responsibility.

“We do offer a consumer math class; it is an elective [for] grades 10-12,” said Van Buren Superintendent Karen Stinson. “They look at checkbook balancing, budgeting, credit cards, consumer loans and use of math in careers.”

Van Buren County students even learn something that is tough for some adults: How to do their own taxes.

“I think we all learn differently. A child who can learn from applied math, because it’s more hands on and means something to them, [won’t be] left behind [academically],” Stinson claimed.

Nearly one-third of eligible students take the course.

“We have bankers or realtors who come in and talk about the importance of good credit or the difference between what you’ll pay over time on a 30-year mortgage compared to a larger down payment and a 15-year mortgage,” she said, adding that getting automotive brochures and figuring out what kind of car they can afford seems to interest the teens.

“It’s very practical, very hands on.”