Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13
The School Savings Bank.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
There can be no question but that the school
savings bank system should be made an import
ant feature in the education of the young and VET
it is a subject that has received but little or NO
attention whatever from prominent educators,
possibly because the idea is comparatively a
new one in this country, although the system
has had strong hold in England, France,
Germany and Belgium for years past, where il
has met with great success and acknowledged
to be invaluable. 1t is a worthy adjunct to the
question of manual training in the schools,
which is nov occupying so much thought in
educational effort. and should be as heartily
welcomed. As a means OF teaching chill
dren the advantages OF thrift and economy
there is hardly any other method superior. II
is practical instruction in a new line-that OF
intoxicating the habit of saving and self-denial
in the mind Of the young. Fewer failures in life
would result il such principles were more prac-
tically taught in educating the child. A little
thought at once convinces us of its importance
both to the child and indirectly to the parent,
and We are surprised that in all our educational
systems this object has been almost entirely
overlooked and that only within few wears
has any systematic effort been made in this line
We all know that the industrial classes are
weighted with many evils which grow out of
thriftlessness and want alone. Now. to teach
the child to avoid the wasteful expenditure Of
econ
omize and lay up for the future is practical
economy Of the highest value. This is the OBJ
ject sought in the introduction Of the savings
bank into the school The young are easily
taught how to save, but to those of mature
years this habit is somewhat difficult to acquire
To the child it becomes a matter of interest
and pleasure, and while he is helped and en-
couraged to persevere he is gradually laying
the foundation for future usefulness and learn
ing lessons that will benefit him in after years.
and not this alone, for its value is far-reaching
in it's results not only benefting the individual
himself but This surroundings, and even the
state itself feels its beneficial influence.
Practical instruction is what is wanted and
school banking is a practical thing, and a boy
or girls delight in possessing bank book is q
reality; it excites an honest pride and stimu-
lates to greater effort And, as has been said.
"a child who has an account in the school bank
feels that he has an interest in the school, and
makes a special effort to be present when bank
ing business is transacted-thus indirectly
aiding in securing q more general attendance"
Is not this in itself q benefit?
In the introduction of the system into q
school, but little or no expense need be in
CURED, and only about fifteen or twenty min
utes would be taken by the teacher on one day
in each week. say Monday morning, before the
morning session, in receiving the voluntary
savings Of the scholars, from 1 cent upward,
and this without any encroachment upon the
hours of study; the different amounts collected
being deposited by the principal Of the school
on the same day in the city savings bank TO the
credit of each individual scholar, who receives
q card or book showing the amount deposited
to his or her credit, as the case may be. The
success Of the movement will, Of course, de-
pend greatly on the interest and encourage
ment shown by the teacher, who should incul-
cate and illustrate the advantage Of saving
Now, to the inquiry. what has been done in this
line, reply that the latest statistics show that
15S schools IN the United States hare adopsed aae
school sdrin9s bank system, and that 0ae amount
Of the sacings Of the scholars has reached he sum
of S93, $40. Is. L. this not creditable showing?
The heartiest Endorsement has been given to
the system by prominent educators and others,
among whom we mention Hon. A. 3. Draper,
state superintendent of public instruction, New
York; Hon. w. s. Paine, superintendent New
York state banking department, and also Hon.
W. I. Harris, commissioner Of the national
board Of education, and we see no reason why
it should not be adopted by our public and pri-
waite schools here and elsewhere. We feel as
sured that il properly explained and encour-
aged the boys and girls would take hold with
an earnestness and enthusiasm that will at once
attest its popularity and make il great sue
cess Shall not our District schools be per-
mitted TO reap the benefits of this new branch
OF education? G.k 4cCoI.