FINANCE Banks in schools not on
THE other day my son came home and announced he’d received a ‘present’ … from a stranger at the local park.
“A pig gave me a fridge magnet!” he squealed (as only a five-year-old can).
His younger brother picked up on the excitement and lunged for the prize. And then it was on for young and … slightly younger. All over a freaking fridge magnet. (Then again, that’s all part of the bro code.) As I separated the two hay-balers, I saw that this was no ordinary fridge magnet.
The pig was actually … a local bank employee dressed up in a costume. Which bank? No, not that one. This swine came from Bendigo Bank, and he was apparently the star attraction at the local community event … getting selfies with the kids. Now I’m sure there were some parents who were taking photos with the pig and having a lovely family time. But, as my kids would soon understand, I’m not like other parents I get a little intense when it comes to school banking.
For me it was like my son coming home with a packet of Marlboros: “The cool cowboy gave it to me, Daddy … and a lighter!” And wouldn’t you know it, the Bendigo Bank boar turned up at my son’s school with bank-branded bags, colouring books and pencils. At this point I’m breathing into a paper bag: if I see that corporate clown around town, I’ll put a skewer up his clacker and an apple in his mouth! Okay, so I’m joking … but the fridge magnet went in the bin, thus reuniting the boys against a new enemy their old man: “So unfair, Dad!”
Here’s the deal: for the past 15 years, I’ve just been carrying on like a pork chop about this issue. And, thankfully, other people are starting to get their snouts out of shape about it.
Earlier this year the Australian Education Union (AEU) wrote a letter to the federal Education Minister, Dan Tehan, demanding that banks be banned from classrooms. As The Barefoot Investor for Families: The Only Kids’ Money Guide You’ll Ever Need (HarperCollins) RRP $29.99
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The Barefoot Investor holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (302081). This is general advice only. It should not replace individual, independent, personal financial advice. AEU president Correna Haythorpe put it: “There’s no place for private corporations to go into schools and try and trap children into banking with them for the long-term future.” You know what? We need a financial revolution in this country, and it needs to start with our kids. Oink! Oink! Tread Your Own Path! Q&A REV. STEPHEN BLOOR ASKS: Hi Scott, I’m just following up on your question last week, ‘Does Jesus Despise the Barefoot Investor?’
As an Anglican priest I love your books — they are against debt, they are about living within your means, and they are about being generous.
Yes, perhaps I would add a few Bible quotes to back up your principles, but it has been a book I’m happy to recommend. And, yes, there is a danger in making an idol out of money, but in this age our culture makes a bigger idol out of keeping up Instagram photos of so- called success.
Blessings, Bloor Rev. Stephen BAREFOOT REPLIES: Thank you, Reverend I’ve actually had a lot of Christians write to me echoing your sentiments this week.
(Okay, and the odd religious nut who said I was going to hell. Seriously they did, claiming I run a cult!)
Thanks for recommending my book, I love hearing from people who’ve used it to get themselves out of debt and back on their feet.