For teachers looking for a lively debate, this question should generate one! WSJ tackles this issue by calling on two experts to provide divergent viewpoints on the topic. Having students research this topic further will engage them in a way that a lecture or reading would not as they will have to grapple with questions like:

• Why are almost 1 in 5 students not able to repay their student loans?
• What does it mean to be “college-ready?”
• How do private and federal student loans differ?
• What is the right amount of student debt? Does it vary by individual student? What factors should be taken into account?

We also recently created a Data Crunch “Who has the most trouble paying off student debt?” which you can use to extend the lesson further.

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.