Disney Dilemna

He was a school administrator.  She was a teacher. They worked in the same school.  Both were divorced.  They met, dated, married.  Nice people.  Good people.  But sometimes life plays dirty tricks even on the best people.  Some years after their wedding she grew sick, then sicker.  An operation revealed grim news.  She started treatments.

Administration took up a collection, sent flowers.  Another envelope was circulated for a gift basket.  Then another for restaurant gift cards.  Meanwhile, the schools also collected.  More gift cards.  An e-reader and books.  A cleaning service.

Then came the 2-page letter, delivered to each school building with orders that it be delivered to all employees – all school administrators, all teachers and teacher aides, all nurses, custodians, secretaries, and food service workers. Everyone. Booster clubs received letters, too, with verbal requests.  So did School District vendors, the companies who sell supplies and equipment.

The letter asked for donations to send the family on a dream trip to Disney.  (Their second trip; they went last year on their own.)  Tickets had already been purchased for this second, more lavish trip.  Checks were to be made payable to another administrator.

Page two of the letter listed categories of giving.  Employees were to check the level of their donation.  $5 to $9 was one level.  $10 to $24 was the next level.  $25 to $39, and so on, going to $100 and up.  A donors’ list was created to give to the family so they could see who gave, and how much.  Employees were told, “That’s how charities do it.”

The response was overwhelming – nearly $20,000 raised so far, for a couple who together earn over $150,000 a year.  But, as I said, they are good people.  Life was unfair, even cruel.  People wanted to do something, to make it better. 

Or was it that many felt bullied into giving?  Because along with the hefty donations came grumbling, and anger.  The tone of the letter, signed by the Superintendent of Schools, left no doubt that names and donation amounts would be recorded.   And there was that donors’ list to consider.  Who wouldn’t give, at least something?

A district this size has had others out with terminal illnesses over the years.  Still does.  What school district doesn’t?  A custodian’s daughter is dying of cancer.  A teacher, a cook, a secretary have all been in similar situations.  Flowers and cards are sent.  Sometimes co-workers bake a lasagna,or a chocolate cake.  Certainly nothing approaching the level of extravagance described above.

A person wonders.  What made this situation so different that the Superintendent stepped in?  Would such a thing be done for others in the future?  Would other families be sent on such a trip at employees’, booster clubs’, and vendors’ expense?

Would you have given?

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