DISCUSSION.

The article presents authors' comments on two papers on teaching economics at high school level in the U.S. by economists Howard S. Ellis and G.L. Bach. Both professors Ellis and Bach have asked for a separate course to be taught in the high schools by competent teachers who understand the spirit of the discipline as well as its techniques. Both have asked that the theory should be made the center of the course. Those who have examined the high school texts and know how heavily they emphasize consumer finance will see this as a distinct step forward. Both have also noted in their papers that the citizen is not in a position to think about public policy without a basic understanding of economics. Professor Ellis has designed his semester course around the needs of the citizen, and Bach has promised that his task force would present a statement of the minimum level of economics essential to good citizenship and reasonably attainable through the high schools. The article agrees that a theory oriented economics course for the citizen is a good first goal in view of the present state of economic illiteracy in the public school system.