WOODSTOCK – For today’s teens, working a part-time job is more than just about having a little pocket money. With a struggling economy, high gas prices and many parents out of work, it’s about how to manage money, too.

In school, economics and consumer education teachers teach teens about everything from interest rates to staying away from credit card debt. And neighborhood banks offer them advice and incentives to start putting away money.

“Most of the juniors and seniors in my economics class work part-time jobs after school and on the weekends. They are learning to manage their money, but they haven’t had a lot of practice, yet,’’ said William Macaulay, economics teacher at Woodstock High School.