Barefoot Investor visits school

By Evelyn Leckie

The ‘Barefoot Investor’ walked into The Kilmore International School classrooms last week to teach grade four students how to save, spend and share their money.

Teacher Jen Ling, was one of thousands of teachers that applied to test out the investor’s ‘Barefoot Money Movement’ program – a program Scott Pape hopes to roll out in every Australian school.

“For years I’ve been saying this country needs a financial revolution, and that it needs to start with our kids,” Mr Pape said.

The students participated in the investor’s first lesson – the ‘Jam Jar Project’ – a project which teaches children to save, spend and share.

“Research shows that money behaviours – good or bad – are set by as young as age seven, so this course is designed to set the children up with good money skills that will last them a lifetime,” Ms Ling said.

Students conducted a toy and bake sale to collect money for the project.After the money from the sale was collected, students separated it into three class jam jars – each jar teaching students critical money management behaviour.

“The ‘splurge’ jar will teach them it’s okay to enjoy some of the fruits of their hard work, the ‘smile’ jar teaches delayed gratification and the importance of saving up for something they want, the ‘give’ jar teaches the joy of giving,” Ms Ling said.

Mr Pape said he was thankful to visit the school, which was close to his farm in Romsey.

“I think one thing kids will be tested on every day of their lives after school is how to manage their money – it’s about teaching kids to enjoy working, spending and to give back to the local community,” Mr Pape said.

“It’s also not just about learning it in school, it’s about what happens at home.

“My motto is, teach the kids, help the parents change the nation.”