Students learn in Duke professor's play

DURHAM -- For students at Triangle Day School, the nation's economic crisis can be summed up with a simple moral: Never lend money to a dancing hobo, no matter how much interest he promises.

The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders got a visit Friday from Duke University finance professor Cam Harvey, whose son Campbell attends the school.

But rather than deliver a 45-minute lecture to a roomful of fidgety, half-awake middle schoolers, Harvey wrote them a play.

"This is the next generation," he said. "For them to understand this in real time reduces the risk of making the same mistakes."

So enter Sikeston Bainbridge, a world-famous heart surgeon played by sixth-grader Mason Ward. He wants to borrow $100 at 5 percent interest.

Next comes Peter Mint, aka "Pepper," played by Cole Farmer. A self-described hobo on his way to a dance audition, he's asking for the same $100 but promises a whopping 12 percent.

So who does the bank president, played by Claire Stripp, choose?

The dancing hobo, of course. Risk shmisk. He's paying 12 bucks back.

"That is a deal!" says Stripp in her greediest bank president voice. "Go to the vault and get Mr. Mint his loan money."

The hobo, of course, has only $10 to repay, and the bank soon fails.

To Harvey -- a respected financial voice who argues that the government's $700 billion bailout of Wall Street will do insufficient repair -- this is the country's financial turmoil in miniature.

"The key take-away of this," he said, "is beware of someone offering you a high rate of return. There's no free lunch here. This bank is shut down. These people are fired. If you're going to be greedy, you need to understand the risks."

As the drama wrapped up, the students retreated for a weekend of reflection. Their homework: Write what you have learned.

Farmer, the 11-year-old hobo, needed only to let his own performance sink in.

"At least it's not me in real life," he said. "You should make sure you have enough money to pay for your house."