St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-04
SCHOOL SAVINGS BANKS.
b Suggestion for Encouraging
Thrift in the Youth.

3 Suggestion for Encouraging
Thrift in the Youth.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Capital and Labor" is rallying cry
of this latter part of our century-a cry
that sends chilling fear into the heart of
many philanthropist and humanita-
rian, who fears all r-widening breech
between capitalist and laborer.
But what is most wanted is not more
capital, nor even more labor, but more
thrift. The masses know how to earn
better than they know how to save"
The inability TO get money is not so
| much the source of poverty and its
evils as the lack of wisdom in expend-
ing or saving. Let two young men start
in life equally equipped and receive for
number of years the same salary, their
circumstances being as nearly alike
as psssible. At the end of ten
years one Will be found independ-
ent, successful and happy; the other
unsuccessful, in debt, and curSing
his luck" envying his friend. and
ready to accept all the doctrine of the
unequal distribution of wealth, and the
oppression of the poor man by the rich,
when in truth there has been nobody to
blame except himself and his own I'M
| thrift
What can the nation do to protect it.
self against these unthrlfty ones, too
often embryo anarchists and criminals?
1t were difficult task to teach thrift to
men and women Ignorant of fits first
essentials, but there are the children
with minds so plastic to receive, but
marble to retain" Impressions; to them
we must turn.
School savings banks throughout the
nation would doubtless prove one of the
best methods of training the children to
| habits of thrift and self-depe ndence.
| These are already in wide use in Eu-
| rope: In France there are 23,375 savings
| school banks under patronage of the
government; in Belgium, $3.50, and
| they are in common use in Germany,
Hungary. Austria, Russia. England,
| Switzerland and the Netherlands. Italy
| has 5,401 postal savings banks. In this
country the subject has had some con-
sideratiOn and isolated trials ever since
| 1876, but gained no Roadway until Prof.
J. II. Thirty, French educator who
came to this country for his health, in
troduced the system into the public
schools of Long Island City in 1885.
The experiment there has been most
successful. and interest has broadened
in the work, until now over 200 schools
in various parts of the United States
have adopted the plan, nearly one
fourth of these being in Pennsylvania.
The system is so simple, no trouble
need be experienced in adopting it. The
first thing is to interest the school
authorities and teachers. School boards
often take much interest in Introducing
the system, and teachers who have the
best interests of their pupils at heart
will readily see its benefits. The CO.
operation of a savings bank must also
be secured, and the question OF who
shall pIin5 the blank form and cards be
decided. The bank usually assumes
this cost.
Having made preparation and set a
day for collecting the first savings Of
the pupils, their parents and the gen.
eral public should be fully informed.
ibis can be done by the teachers and
friends of the system, in private schools
or country districts. III towns and cities
it is wiser to issue circular addressed
to the patrons of the school, stating the
facts OF the proposed innovation and its
advantages. and soliciting their assist
ance. On the morning of the collection, the
roll is called by the teacher, the child
kVOpOtitiibS " NNh'iS tAiO ibOiiSS ~ nv.
She marks the amount on a school saw
ings bank card opposite the proper date,
and also places the amount in the roll
book to his credit. This card is always
in possession of the child, and serves as
a memorandum ana receipt. The first
deposit is made in the name of the
teacher or principal. but when child
has saved 81 he is given a bank book,
and becomes, through the school, reg
ular patron OF the savings bank. When
his deposit has reached IS or IS, as the
bank decides. it draws interest at 3 or
more per cent. During vacation the
child may deposit or withdraw money
directly freupthe bank. the withdrawal
requiring the signature of parent or
guardian.
A weekly card has been prepared by
Prof. Thirty, who has with great care
fitted and simplitied the school savings
bank system of Europe to our need.
Samples of this card, with use of copy
right, ana further information about
the system can be obtained by writing
to Mrs. Sara L.Oberholtzer, NorristOwn,
Pa, who is greatly interested in further
ing the work. Mrs. AMY A. GREEN.