Bankers and Economics Arkansas
Likeminded Champions of Economic Literacy
By Claudia Utley • Economics Arkansas
For more than 50 years, the annual ABA Chairman’s Campaign has raised funds to enhance economic opportunities for Arkansas teachers and students.
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ronically, that patronage began with a locked door. The Arkansas Council on Economic Education was founded in early 1962 to teach educators how to integrate economic and personal finance education into the elementary and secondary classroom curriculum. The thinking was—and still is—that school students who master sound decision-making skills, learn how to manage money and understand the principles of the American free-market economy will be more likely to thrive as adult citizens, consumers, and members of the workforce.
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The Arkansas Banker n Summer 2020
Immediately after the council’s inception, a major challenge emerged: No money was available for initial teacher training. About $10,000 was needed to send 52 Arkansas teachers to economics summer workshops at various, out-of-state universities; none of the required courses were offered locally. The council’s first executive director, Bessie B. Moore—legendary for her determination and passion—sprang into action: She gathered 22 bankers and business leaders in a conference room of the Marion Hotel in Little Rock and explained the problem. Then she locked the door and announced it would remain locked until the necessary sum was pledged.
