The school soda (snack shop) is a wonderful learning opportunity for Futuro Verde students. Each class has the responsibility to supply and run the soda on different days throughout the school year, culminating in an educational field trip. Raising money in this way helps all students take ownership of their class fundraising efforts. At the same time, they can learn about healthy food, how to follow a recipe, to set prices, and count change.
The class soda days are a group effort, for the good of all students, as all of them have the opportunity to go on the field trips. But what happens when students repeatedly don’t participate? What effect does that have on the rest of the team? It doesn’t seem very fair, just or respectful. There are probably many possible and legitimate reasons for non-participation, but there are still negative consequences. The class makes less money, perhaps they have to change the field trip, or parents might be asked to contribute to cover the costs. There can also be consequences for the student in their class; resentment can build amongst the other students.
How can we, as parents and teachers, help our students be less of an island and a more principled team player, contributing to the group effort? Money and cost of ingredients can be a barrier that we can help students overcome with some very cost effective suggestions. Organization can also be hard for some of our students, and before they know it the day of the soda comes and they have nothing to contribute. Perhaps the greatest challenge is to inculcate the personal sense of responsibility; to overcome the “justification” of “other people don’t do it either!”
