Cooperation: The Missing Ingredient in Consumer Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Cooperation among the various suppliers of consumer education programs and materials is needed. Consumer education has many problems, e.g., lack of substantial support from the federal level and an audience limited mostly to underachievers. But the greatest problem is that consumer educators consider themselves to be home economists or business educators first, and consumer educators second. As a solution to these problems, education, business, and community groups interested in consumer education could form a coalition whose objectives would include such tasks as improving teacher education, certifying teachers, upgrading curricula, promoting research, reviewing materials, and initiating multidisciplinary projects. Over 100 professionals from academia, business, and government were contacted to determine if any movement toward greater cooperation currently exists. Although the majority of respondents believed that cooperation currently exists, almost all said that more cooperation is needed. An idea that incorporates many of the respondents' ideas for increased cooperation is the proposed National Consumer Education Institute. (RM)