Kristof on Teaching Economics

A great idea from Nicholas Kristof:

Churchill was right about democracy being the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried. Yet we should be able to respond to evidence of democracy’s failings with something more than Churchillian resignation. So why not address the problem in our education system, by teaching basic economics and statistics in high schools? Students usually now encounter statistics, if at all, in college. But simple statistics could easily be taught along with algebra in high school. Likewise, principles of economics could be taught in social studies classes.

I have long thought that a year of economics should be standard in high school, much as American history is now. I even have a good textbook to recommend.