The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-02-01

8vsss6S SyosSsvo w 0SttOOsSs
The school board took steps at Its Tues
day evening meeting to inaugurate Q sys-
TEN of savings among the school children Of
the city. The plan Is one which has OPP
Grated most favorabIy in many places In
Europe and In the eastern part OF the United
States. 1t has recently been the subject Of
superintendent K. 7. Austin and also on
the part OF Mr.. l. II. Keeler, president OF
the Citizens Savings Bank, and wherever
they have secured reports OF its workings
the reports have always been of the most
encouraging kind.
The system was put in operation In Eng
land in the sixties by Gladstone, and at
present there are no less than 100, 900
places throughout Europe where 1t is In
vogue. In the United States 1t Is but COM
paratively recently that the system has been
inaugurated, but In the eastern states 1t has
now been In operation In q constantly
growing degree for several years. In Chi
cago since the establishment OF the system
the success with which 1t has been met has
been quite remarkable. 1t Is already In OPP
Grafton In two cities In Michigan, Grand
Rapids and Adrian, and Albion Is just
starting IL.
The system which will be applied In the
case of the OwOsso schools has not been
definitely determined as yet, but whatever
1t lie, 1t will be so carefully systematized that
the work will take almost no time at oil on
the part Of the teachers and the expenses
of the undertaking will be borne entirely
by the Citizens Savings Bank. It is proba-
able that stamp system will be used, each
pupil who wishes to begin saving his pennies
or nickles being given a book and getting
stamps from the teacher in exchange for
his pennies. The stamps will be placed
in the book and when a certain amount Is
reached regular account can be opened by
the pupil with the bank. In the large cities
where the system has been in operation for
SEINE time instances have been known where
the savings which the children have made
ID just this manner have tided their fami-
lies through periods in which they would
have beeen obliged to seek outside aid had
1t not been for that reserve. The savings
are under the control Of their owners at
practically all times, with but slight restric-
tons. The details of the plan are, how
ever, now being worked out by Mr.. Keeer,
who mas become greatly interested in the
matter.
upon may be, the matter cannot fail to be Of
great benefit TO the pupils of the schools,
who will learn lessons OF thrift and the i'm
portance of saving which will be- of no
small value to them in later life. OF course
IL the system should work exceptionally
well there would be some compensation for
the bank through interest on the deposits,
but there is scarcely the falntest possibility
that such returns will even begin to pay the
cost of the installation and maintenance of
the system. Mr.. Keeler has gone into the
matter because he believes that it will be of
great benefit to the pupils of the schools
and that through his position he can give
them something that they could not get
through the schools alone. The new course,
as 1t might be called, therefore costs the
taxpayer nothing, but incidentally 1t might
be said that the new departure has value
quite aside from this and from the benefit 1t
will bring TO the pupils, in the display of
public spiritedness which is back of the
NATTER both on the part of Mr.. Keller and
on the part of the members of the school
board and Superintendent Austin as we'll in
their hearty cooperation in the plan.