Photo Credit: BLUE KAUFMAN
BY VIRGINIA PENIAS
For many students at Cooper City High School, extracurricular activities offer an opportunity to become better rounded. These activities provide an outlet to blossom, make friends, and discover unknown talents. Still, while the public school system may give students this experience without a cost, it doesn’t cover the price of equipment, uniforms, coaches, and other necessary tools. The solution? Fundraisers. Without another option, students have to raise the money themselves in order to keep their activity running. Although they help to keep clubs alive, these fundraisers end up being a burden for students.
The most popular way to raise money at Cooper City High School is by selling candy/chocolate to other students. By a set date, it is mandatory that the club members turn in the amount of money they are required to make by selling. The amount usually ranges from fifty to one hundred dollars. Unfortunately, if a student doesn’t sell everything, they must pay the remainder of the money out-of-pocket. That means that even if you can’t sell those last almond chocolates that nobody likes you still have to pay for them. Living in hard economic times, this task can cause financial difficulties for students who have not raised the full amount and do not have a way of coming up with the remainder of the money.
In a desperate attempt to get rid of the chocolate, students are now selling to other students throughout the school day while teachers are teaching. Needless to say, it’s distracting to the teachers, classmates, and students who witness this exchange. Even though the selling period usually isn’t too short, students often focus on selling their candy and chocolate as soon as possible so they can get it out of their way and off their hands. Instead of focusing during instructional time, students are now interrupting class time to try and make a sell.
According to sophomore Zoe Shir, selling chocolate was difficult because many students were selling the same chocolate as she was. As part of the debate team, she not only struggled to sell chocolates but also found herself competing against her friends.
Even worse, the fundraising kits that students are provided with are often filled with unhealthy snacks and treats. In this day in age, many students don’t get enough physical activity daily to stay fit, even when eating healthy. According to kidshealth.org, the percentage of overweight children in the United States is increasing rapidly, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese. Having this easy access to candy every day is hard to avoid and a further detriment to students’ health.
Overall, while school clubs and sports provide enjoyment and give students a break from their large load of schoolwork, chocolate/candy sales during school hours simply isn’t the answer.
