They want to know if their money will be safe in the bank and if the stock market will rebound. And they have questions about the proposed $700 billion financial rescue plan.

But these inquisitive minds aren't on Wall Street or even running households on Main Street. They're seated in room 216, Mr. Castiello's honors economics class at Miami Jackson Senior High.

At Jackson, an Allapattah high school at which students can specialize in finance, students say the past few weeks have been an interesting time to sit in an economics classroom.

''It's exciting,'' said Greysi Santos, a soft-spoken junior. ``There are some big problems to solve.''

But like many adults, the teens are also concerned. Members of the Class of 2010 worry about paying their bills after high school. They wonder how they'll finance college. And the ever-tight job market gives them butterflies.

''We're going to go into a depression if we don't do something quickly,'' said Enrico Ameneiro, a 16-year-old junior. ``It's going to be interesting to watch what happens, but it's probably going to be difficult.''

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

On Wednesday, veteran teacher Julio Castiello explained the origins of the economic downturn to a group of about two dozen juniors and seniors in his first-period economics class.

''Banks were making risky loans called sub-prime loans and other types of exotic loans -- loans that bankers knew were very, very risky,'' he said. ``And what's been happening to these loans? People start to say, `I can't pay it back.'

''What do banks do with these mortgages?'' he continued. ``They sell them. How can you sell something to somebody if you don't know how much that asset is worth?''

The students peppered Castiello with questions.

``Why are people panicking?''

``What will happen to inflation?''

Just like Congress, the students in Mr. Castiello's class are split on whether the $700 billion bailout is a good idea.

Greysi said the banks need help and that the plan would help stabilize the economy.

Edwin Lopez also supported the plan, saying it would help end the panic people have about the economy.

Jessica Hernandez, however, said the bailout was a waste of taxpayer money.

''I don't think it will make a difference,'' she said. ``If we have another war or depression, the economy will still have problems.''

The week has been full of surprises, Castiello said after class.

When the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 777 points Monday, he and his students compared the event to the Wall Street Crash of 1929.

''As a teacher, you have to be really up on this stuff,'' he said, adding that he scrapped a lesson plan on the bailout after the House of Representatives rejected the plan on Monday. ``It changes from moment to moment.''

HITTING HOME

Lately, the lessons in economics have been hitting home.

Jessica, 16, said she was struggling to find an after-school job.

''I'm a little worried,'' Jessica said. ``It's going to be difficult to find a job. And who really wants to work for $6 an hour?''

Jessica also said she was nervous about finding scholarships to help pay for her college education. She'll be graduating June 2010.

Enrico said he had found an after-school job to help out at home.

Before taking the class this semester, 16-year-old Edwin wasn't at all interested in the economy. But now, he said, he is paying careful attention to the news.

''To tell you the truth, I actually got into it,'' he said.

Greysi said there was an important lesson to be learned from the current crisis.

''The banks should be careful with the loans they pay out,'' she said. ``They should check people's credit. They should see if they have a stable job and enough money to pay for it so this doesn't happen again.''

She added: ``I definitely think in time we will heal. But we have to learn from our mistakes.''

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