, 1889-12-24
SAVING PUPILS, PENNIES.
The Excellent School Bank System IN
Long Island City.

Long Island City.
ALI the school children of Long Isl
and City have an excellent opportuni-
ty of putting into practice the old ak
iom that Economy is wealth" Three
or four years ago the banking system
was introduced into the various pub
he schools in that city. Collections
are made every MondSy morning. and
those pupils who are saving and care
full Of their money find great pleasure
in responding to the question How
much have you got7"
Each pupil is furnished with a neat
ly printed card on which the deposits
are credited. These cards are highly
treasured. They bear these inscrip-
tons: Good principles and good
habits are in themselves a fortune"
The habit of saving is an essential
part of a true, practical education"
On the last page are these notices:
Take care of the pennies and the dol
lars will take are of themselves. +"
THE masses know how to earn better
than how to save"
When the school opens on Monday
morning the teacher takes out the roll
book, and, as she calls the names, the
pupils call out the amounts of money
they want to deposit, each in turn
stepping up to the desk with the
money, and records the amount on
the card and in her own book. After
the collection each teacher delivers
the money to the principal, who de-
posts it the same day in the Long
Island City Savings bank in the name
of each depositor. One cent or up
ward car be received by the teacher.
When a pupil has a deposit of 81 or
more a bank book will be given free
of charge from the bank.
The pupils are requested not to with
draw deposits until the amount reaches
50, except in cases of sickness or re-
moval from the city; but if the deposit
should be withdrawn and the amount
has been less than So, the bank will
charge ten cents for the bank book.
Deposits of 81 and over bear interest.
The bank books of tine pupils are kept
by the principal as long as the children
attend school. II they want to leave
the school or at vacation the book is
given to them and they can withdraw
their money, but they will require the
presence of their father or mother and
the signature of the principal. During
the summer vacation of the school de-
posts may be made or money with
drawn from .he bank direct, the cashier
acting during that time for the teacher.
Only about ten minutes time is con
sumed in making the collections in
each school, so that it cannot be OBJ
jected that it materially interferes
with the regular work of the public
school. This ten minutes each Mon
day morning has more excitement in
it for the children than the events of
all the rest of the week put together.
Their eyes sparkle and their faces
glow with excitement. Five cents is
the average deposit, and the pupil
who has more than that amount an
nounce it in a voice hat plainly de
notes satisfaction.
The lad who deposits half a dollar,
OF possibly a dollar, is regarded with
admiration by his fellow pupils, who
look upon him as future millionaire.
AS the amount grows the boys and
girls become o eager to save.
Many have some specific object in
view. Although the girls outnumber
the boys as depositors, the latter have
the largest amount to their credit. 1t
is in the primary and intermediate
grades that the largest collections are
made. The higher the grade of school,
the fewer the depositors .-Brooklyn
Fau1e