The Things I Learned in Third Grade

It was third grade and I was in a class for "gifted" students.  While most third grade teachers were teaching cursive writing, Ms. Goodwin was teaching us economics.

The day's lesson was the monetary system.  Ms Goodwin was explaining to us that the paper money we use has no value in and of itself.  It is just a promise by the government to pay.  It is only paper.

Gifted though we may have been, that sounded like B.S.  A five dollar bill was worth exactly five dollars.

"Fine," said a frustrated...