Too much pocket money will ruin your child

Early last term, your daughter handed over some Sh10, 000 to her class teacher for safekeeping, saying she feared her colleagues could break into her box and steal the money.

Acknowledging the student’s fears, the teacher accepted the money and held it until closing day before returning it — albeit minus Sh500 the student had used to buy textbooks.

It was St Paul’s opinion that money was the root of evil. And in the hands of a student, the potential for evil far overshadows any potential good.

Entrusting your daughter with Sh10,000 puts her at a high risk of engaging in self-indulgence and debauchery. And unless she has sufficient depth of character and personality, the money could easily distract her from her studies, and the straight and narrow path.

I am not suggesting that you deny her pocket money. Pocket money is important to a student. It takes care of emergencies such as sickness, unplanned closures of school, purchases such as books, and other contingencies.

However, giving Sh10,000 is going overboard.

A headmistress recently narrated how one of her students sneaked out of school and was later found in a restaurant in the nearby town by her mother. The mother was shocked to discover that her daughter had invited a boyfriend for a treat and was the one financing the outing.

Squandered Sh15,000

The mother confessed to the headmistress that the girl had squandered Sh15,000 given her as pocket money.

I do not want to advise you, dear parent, on how to spend your disposable income. That is your prerogative.

However, I feel that were such monies spent on tours to historical sites where the student could learn about history, and geography, it would be money well spent.

Or the money could be used to buy books that help mould a child’s character and personality.

Critical thinking

Besides, students’ exposure to books (not text books) helps improve critical thinking. Good novels, plays, poetry and essays build what psychologists call emotional or interpersonal intelligence.

Experts in literature simply call it empathy. These are strong assets — the raw materials that a strong personality is made of.

Parents educate their children in the hope that they will become great captains of State, industry and commerce. None wants their child to play second fiddle.

Money, or material gifts, cannot substitute parental affection and love. Money has no nutritional value, so to speak, for the souls of the young thirsting for affection.

In his inaugural address in 1989, former US President George Bush observed: "We are not the sum of our possessions. They are not the measure of our lives. In our hearts we know what matters. We cannot hope to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood and town better than he found it".

On its own, money cannot provide this.

I have written this unusual letter to a parent of one of my students knowing that it will go a long way in helping us mould the student along the path that will be to her greatest advantage, and society’s, when she comes of age.

The Principal, via e-mail