Battling the forces of darkness: how can economic freedom be effectively taught in the pre-college curriculum?

How can the institutions of a free-market economy be sustained if teachers and students fail to grasp a basic economic understanding? This article describes the current status of economic education at the pre-college levels including teacher knowledge, student knowledge, and the status of economics in the school curriculum. Concern is expressed that the weak status of economics at the pre-college level may have contributed to the recent decline of economic freedom in the United States. Next, we will examine steps that can be taken to strengthen economics at the kindergarten to grade 12 level. We suggest three approaches: changes in pedagogy, curriculum, and teacher training. We believe that taking actions along these lines will deepen young people's understanding of free markets and strengthen their support for economic freedom.