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April 22, 2001 -- The
job of parents and grandparents in educating children
and grandchildren on the values of investing is
a true long-term committment. We naturally want
them to mature into young adults who are ready,
willing and confident to look after their investments
needs.
The school investment club environment is very
conducive to learning the art and science of investing.
With cooperation among school administrators,
teachers, parents and grandparents, the investment
club is both fun and effective in teaching children
the values of investing. I am a fan of school
investment clubs because they teach children the
methodology of investing that will help them secure
their own financial success when they venture
out on their own.
Thankfully, there are many helpful resources
for schools to initiate and maintain a successful
student investment club.
- Make the club a fun experience within the
learning environment. A slice of pizza for everyone
at some of the meetings has great appeal.
- The first ingredient is for school administrators,
teachers, parents and grandparents to get involved
with the students and work together towards
establishing a successful school club.
- Peruse the resources available from the Canadian
Shareowners Association (CSA) and the National
Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC)
that may be helpful in assisting with the formation
and operation of a school club.
- Decide whether the school will support of
the cost of startup and running the investment
club, or whether the invitation of local businesses
to help sponsoring the club is valuable.
- Involve students from the start, prepare the
club mission statement and goals, the responsibilities
of the various club positions and elect the
officers.
- Delegate club responsibilities to students
and allow them to decide whether to invest actual
funds or begin with a mock portfolio. Ideally,
each student should select a stock, research
it and make a presentation. Of course, select
the club portfolio from the student presentations.
- For new investment clubs, devote the first
two or three meetings learning and adopting
the CSA and NAIC resource materials and strategies.
- Invite speakers from the investment community
and media to club meetings to present their
perspective on a chosen topic. Schedule one
or two club visits per year to a company head
office near you, a company annual general meeting,
a stock exchange or a financial analyst meeting.
- If possible, put the club and its portfolio
online, perhaps on the school web site and the
CSA or NAIC sponsored club links.
- Encourage the students to make presentations
to outside parties, say at another school considering
starting a club, to investment professionals
and to the parents, grandparents and family
members.
- Discuss club strategy for when the school
year ends. Generate awareness in the school
newspaper, school web site and community newspapers
to recruit students for the next school year.
Send student members to speak to other classes
and share their club investment experiences.
All the work will eventually mould the children
into young adults with investment savvy - an accomplishment
you will be very proud of as a parent, grandparent,
teacher and administrator.
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