An Auckland primary and intermediate school has taken a novel approach to collectable cards by creating a designated “trading day” rather than banning them altogether.
Woolworths released the Disney Worlds of Wonder cards last month. They feature Pixar, Marvel, Disney and Star Wars characters.
Shoppers earn one pack of the three double-sided cards each time they spend $30 on groceries.
Balmoral School principal Malcolm Milner told Breakfast the cards were “just one of those fads that has come through our school”.
“Previously, we would have banned them,” he said.
“We see younger children being exploited by cleverer students, exactly the same that you would see in the marketplace really, some kids try to monopolise it.”
They were also disrupting class, which Milner said was “normal school behaviour”.
Students asked the school librarian if they could set up a trade in the library and she raised it with the senior leadership team.
Milner said the school tried its first trading day two weeks ago.
“It’s like a stock exchange, there’s children on the floor, there’s children standing. It’s pretty cramped, it’s pretty loud, it’s exciting.
“We’re lucky to have an intermediate school on site, and we’ve got some intermediate moderators walking around the room.”
Children are only allowed to bring them in on Tuesdays, Milner said.
“I’ve only had one child I’ve had to speak to about bringing it on another day, so that’s pretty good, and the teachers are saying they’re not being brought out in classes.
“It’s really calm, it’s great.”