Fund Raising

One of our teachers at the school has been taking students on an educational international tour during spring break of every year for the past ten years. Last year, I was a chaperon and we toured Spain and Portugal for10 days. EF tours gave students a rich educational experience; we stayed at the nicest hotel, had the best tour guides and had the taste of authentic local food as well as from the best restaurants in town. The students enjoyed every minute of the trip and I am not exaggerating, after the trip, they are more matured and behave differently at school. Global travel and the exposure to different cultures build students’ confidence and change their life perspective to a great extent. So far, the teacher had always taken seniors and for the first time she had taken sophomores and juniors this year. The teacher does a great service to students, as some of the students on the tour have never traveled outside of Atlanta. Traveling to Europe costs a lot of money and our students do not have access to that kind of money. The tour is open to anyone and everyone that desire to go. The only condition the teacher has is that once a student gets committed to go on the trip, he/she cannot have any referrals at all and the grades cannot be a failing grade at any time. Students have to pay approximately 40% to 50% of the cost and the teacher raises funds to pay the rest of the fee for every student she takes on the tour. She works tirelessly and enthusiastically each and every day after school selling candies, chips and everything else students love to eat (Do you think it’s healthy food?). Students take turns and help the teacher in the sale. The teacher gets approval from the Principal and the sales are done after school as per school policy and district policy. However, something is bothering me about this fundraising.  Who pays the money for the 10 students that go on the trip? It is our school students who come from the same neighborhood, from the same socio-economic status. Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? Or is it a question of survival of the fittest? Is it ethical?