re financial literacy
Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter have been telling everyone who will listen since at least 1997.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Dad_Poor_Dad
re critical thinking
Years ago, one candidate for my state's Superintendent of Public Instruction aggressively opposed adding critical thinking and problem solving to the curriculum. It'd distract from all that useful standardized testing. She won. Served two terms (8 years).