Education

Arkansas Bill Would Force These Kids Today To Learn How To Make Correct Change

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Cursive handwriting and diagramming sentences are practically extinct skills among America’s school-aged kids. Other skills including knowledge of basic multiplication tables could soon be endangered.

But now, if Arkansas state Rep. Kim Hendren has anything to say about it, counting out the correct change will be saved from destruction — at least in one lonely state in the union.

The Republican has announced that he will propose a bill mandating that kids in Arkansas public schools learn how to make correct change, reports Little Rock CBS affiliate KTHV.

He said he believes the law is necessary because of information he has gleaned through through old-fashioned retail politics.

“An operator of a sale barn in northwest Arkansas told me: ‘My wife and I went to Sonic the other night bought two drinks for just over three dollars and when the attendant came out I handed a 20 dollar bill to the attendant,'” Hendren explained to KTHV.

“The attendant looked so puzzled, hesitated back and then gave him back $21 in change.”

Hendren said he will make learning how to count correct change part of a broader bill mandating a personal finance curriculum in taxpayer-funded schools.

“Perhaps give them the chance to take a general math course,” he said. “Business math, that’s rigorous, but also includes in that how to make change.”

“The solutions aren’t easy but they’re simple,” Hendren also told the station. “This is just a simple solution to an everyday problem that my constituents and the constituents of Arkansas I think feel needs to be addressed.”

And now, gather around children, because The Daily Caller is going to lay upon you all the change-counting knowledge you will ever need.

First, start with the total purchase amount. For example, let’s say the purchase is a four-shot espresso ($4.25) and a little Styrofoam container of live bait ($8). So, $12.25 (leaving tax aside to keep it simple).

Second, count from $12.25 to the next whole dollar. So, 75 cents gets you to $13.

Third, just keep counting until you get to the amount of money that was paid. Let’s say it was $20. So you count up from $13 to $20. That $7 — plus, of course, the 75 cents — is the correct amount of change.

Fourth, count that $7.75 back to your customer starting at $12.25. And don’t forget to wish that person a nice day.

Now you know, America. Good luck!

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