From Bahama islands info

What we have in common – Commonwealth Bank Vice President of Operations Mavis Burrows, far right, links banking principles to parenting, explaining the best return on investment is the time parents lend to their children and their children’s education. Ms. Burrows addressed a full house at a parenting forum along with l-r. Marcellus Taylor, Deputy Director of Education, T. Nicola McKay, President of NPAHSP (New Providence Association of High School Principals), Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin and Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage. Both members of Cabinet urged greater parental involvement. NASSAU, Bahamas — A top banking executive is linking banking principles to parenting in an investment message that is taking hold like the kind of song you can’t get out of your head.

The best return on investment, says Mavis Burrows, Vice President of Operations, Commonwealth Bank, may surprise you – it may not be gold or shares or even real estate. It could very well be the time you spend with your children and their education.

“I am not discouraging anyone from investing in real estate, entrepreneurial endeavors, or shares of Bahamian companies, but the message I want to spread is that the very best investment any parent can make is an investment in their child,” said Mrs. Burrows.

Applying the principles of banking that lead to return on investment to the act of parenting would reap benefits that extend well beyond any fiscal year’s reporting, said Mrs. Burrows.

“Think of your son or daughter or the children you are looking after as your principal, your primary investment. If you lend yourself to them by paying attention to their activities at school, by helping them with reading or a science project or a challenging math problem, you are lending the best thing you can possibly provide – your time and attention. And in turn, they will give you the best return on investment you can ask for,” she said.

“That return could be the child who decides to stay in school instead of giving up. That return on investment could be the next scientist or researcher who helps to discover a cure for diabetes or cancer or Parkinson’s.”

Her words reinforce the call for increased parental involvement in schools by educators at every level, but go a step further.

“We know that when parents are actively involved in their children’s education, those students do better,” said Mrs. Burrows. “But to state that fact and not explore more deeply does it a disservice. So what I want to suggest is that we look at parental involvement in banking terms, we think of it as lending – lend time, lend attention, lend a sincere ear. Listen to what your child says and what he or she is not saying. The investment you make, that extra half hour a day reading with them when they are young, or the hour spent working on a science project or helping them research something can bring untold returns not just while they are in school.”

In fact, says Mrs. Burrows, the long-term return is most important.

“You are not just helping to create a better student. You are helping to mold a better human being. Think of the time you are investing and the attention you are showing as building a savings account that continues to grow and you can never deplete.”

Mrs. Burrows first introduced the concept of linking banking principles to parenting during the Commonwealth Bank sponsored back-to-school parenting forum at which she was a featured speaker along with the Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage, the Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin and high-ranking members of the Ministry of Education, including school principals.

The bank has sponsored the forum along with education officials for the past five years as part of its ongoing commitment to education.

“Commonwealth Bank chooses education as our number one priority because the future of our nation rests in the hands of our children. This is the seventh year we have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of educational supplies in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the fifth year we have participated in the Parenting Forum. Our commitment to education, including our Emerging Leaders Scholarship Program at COB, now tops $2 million.”

It was at that forum where she stressed the importance of parental involvement.

“We are calling upon our parents,” she said, “asking you, urging you to lend yourselves to your children, lend the best that you have to give because the return on investment – a compassionate, cared for, educated child – is the best investment you can ever make.”

Photo: What we have in common – Commonwealth Bank Vice President of Operations Mavis Burrows, far right, links banking principles to parenting, explaining the best return on investment is the time parents lend to their children and their children’s education. Ms. Burrows addressed a full house at a parenting forum along with l-r. Marcellus Taylor, Deputy Director of Education, T. Nicola McKay, President of NPAHSP (New Providence Association of High School Principals), Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin and Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard Nottage. Both members of Cabinet urged greater parental involvement.

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