POCKET MONEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 14

POCKET MONEY.

AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL. A distinguished man of letters recently contrasted the amount given to the children of the working classes to-day with that of 40 years ago. commenting on the great increase, shillings, in many eases, taking the place of pennies. Correspondence on tho subject revealed that even in poor districts parents gave their children pocket money which, earlier, would have been regarded as quite unnecessary and even extravagant. Then entered into the discussion a well-known woman scientist, who attacked not the amount of pocket money nor its expenditure, but the principle of money obtained without work. In her family no child receives money unless he has earned it, a system that does not appeal to those who feel that it makes a child thoroughly mercenary and might check his desire to help others in the honip unless he knew he was going to get "hard cash" in return. It has always been one of the joys of childhood to have money of one's own, freely given and to be spent freely. Parents and guardians may exercise a little sensible control by suggesting wise and unwise uses of money, but all the pleasure of possessing pocket money, an income of one's own, would be taken away if one had to work for it or had to account for its disposal. If the amount given is suitable there will be little need to inquire as to how it is spent. Children should not have the responsibility of much money, and it is the duty of parents to see that the former should only have the handling of modest sums. When the age of thirteen or fourteen is reached and the boy or girl goes to a bigger school, public or private, hoarding or day school, then the question of pocket money assumes a rather different aspect. Probably it would be well to have a talk on the getting and spending of money, as many young folk too often assume that daddy has an inexhaustible supply of that commodity. It is good training for these young people to be encouraged to give generously and not spend all their inonpy on themselves, to live well within their income, however modest it be, and to keep accounts. These are all good habits which can be carried 011 in later years, and will prove very helpful when there are larger incomes to be managed. We do not want children to be either misers or sjvendthrifts, and generosity is, perhaps, the rarest of all virtues.

Two Shillings a Week. Most good English schools to-day have a fixed rate for pocket money according to age. and few allow large amounts. One school where the fees are high allows 2/ a week; another makes it a rule for the girls to put the money which thev bring back at the beginning of each term into a bank and draw on it by cheques. Thev thus learn how to deal with a banking account, and if sums beyond a certain fixed amount are withdrawn, inquiries arc made. There are various things at a boarding school for which money is required— school charities, extra games subscriptions, special occasions—and it is very pleasant for the girls to give out of their own money and not. call upon their parents. It is also good training for them to plan out their money, and perhaps spend less on sweets or a book or paper for themselves in order to save for others' benefit. It is not satisfactory for pupils to bring back varying sums of money, for those who have little envy those who have much, and the latter are apt to swagger, indulge in unnecessary luxuries and win flattery and popularity by their lavish gifts. As the girl grows older, she may be given an allowance in place of the pocket money which was merely for "extras." while this is for her dress and various necessities. By judicious spending she will learn the value of money, and will realise that forethought, economy, knowledge and judgment are required to make the best use of an allowance. Lessons on the place of money in life m be given in tlie school* in the highest form, for much unhappiness is caused ii> many families by woman's inability to deal with it satisfactorily. It is a verv important part of a girl's education.