Safin

I'm curious what the consensus is ......

Our 9yr old came home tonight explaining how he'd had what amounts to a sweepstake in class on the cup and there were prizes for the winners. He also is now able to give a pretty reasonable explanation of an each way bet. They listened to the race on the radio

Is this
A) Outrageous. Teaching kids to bet and offering them prizes for doing so
B) A practical example of maths in real life ?


Odds are evens on the outcome.....

chris955

I think it is outrageous, with the gambling problem we have it seems unwise to be introducing 9 year old to it.

cresta57

I vote B teaching kids practical applications for math makes it both more interesting & likely to be remembered as well as giving an insight as to how it's used in the everyday world.

Kim67

Placing a bet on the Melbourne Cup and having a classroom sweep and watching the race are an Australian school tradition. It's all in good fun and won't turn them into gambling addicts - it's an addictive personality that will do that. I hate going to the casino or the pokies, but a love a flutter on the cup or watching the old boys play two up on ANZAC Day, it's part of our culture.

EvannTel

Because education and exposure at reasonable levels is more likely to lead to a alanced approach. Prohibition and pretending it's wrong and dangerous is never going to help.

BadgeIsBack

I feel on balance, you have to be careful...I'd rather just talk about the cup and the history..

and give the child their own horse on the day...

but I'm not going to be too concerned. I'd be more concerned about the parents. So I'd let it through.

chris955

It is ? My boys have certainly never watched it at school.

Amazulu

No surprise there then KJ

Kim67

Poor little buggers.

JenniGee

I vote B

Took my 14 year old to the Cup today - we had a wonderful time & she had a few dollars to spend on her favourite horses.

Everything in it's context - it's seeing the gambling as part of the bigger picture - the event, the history, the time spent with family & friends, the social aspect, getting dressed up....

I certainly wouldn't have given her money to spend on the pokies!

irishbloo

I thought the legal age for gambling was 18.

Kim67

It is, but if you help your parents choose their horse, then they place the bet and give you the winnings as a gift, nothing illegal has happened.

irishbloo

Well,you learn somethng new each day.

itigo

My daughter's school did Cup related activities in all subjects today (she's 7) then they had a lucky dip to choose a horse. The WHOLE school then listened to the race over the school tannoy system!! As my dad says, all part of a catholic (with a small c) education........

She knows I had a flutter and won some money so she gets it from home as well....

TiddlyPom

I remember all my family having a flutter on the Grand National every year when I was a child. I picked a horse to win.
I don't gamble now, not even on a lottery ticket, though I wished I'd put a tenner on the quadrella cos I picked every one.