Media-Providence Friends School Recognized Nationally as 1 of 10 First Fair Trade Schools

Media-Providence Friends School was an “early adopter” of the Fair Trade movement, teaching about and advocating for Fair Trade decades prior to “Everybody’s Home Town” becoming “America’s First Fair Trade Town”. The school recently cemented its commitment, participating in the country’s first ever K-12 school certification program sponsored by Fair Trade Campaigns -- the U.S. certifying entity for Fair Trade towns, universities, schools and congregations. In late January, MPFS and 9 other schools became the nation’s first cohort of officially certified Fair Trade Schools. In a simultaneous additional “Fair Trade First”, Media became nation’s first Fair Trade Town to boast five Fair Trade certified educational institutions: MPFS, Media Elementary, Walden, Penncrest and Penn State-Brandywine.

Fair Trade seeks to ensure a fair, living wage for farmers and artisans in the developing world. As stated by the UK’s Fairtrade Foundation [http://www.fairtrade.org.uk]:“Every time you buy a product carrying the Fairtrade Mark [e.g. logo], producers will have received the guaranteed minimum Fairtrade price plus an additional social premium to invest in their communities for the future. Fairtrade products guarantee that, however low world market prices fall, the producer organizations will always receive enough to cover the costs of production and a sustainable livelihood.”

The U.S.’ Fair Trade Campaigns [www.fairtradecampaigns.org] is “Part of a global effort to normalize Fair Trade as an institutional practice and consumer preference across 24 countries on six continents.” According to FTC National Coordinator, William Linstead Goldsmith, “Through its Fair Trade Schools certification program, FTC aims to (1) consciously cultivate future consumers; (2) provide Fair Trade Towns an opportunity to deepen their commitment to Fair Trade; and, (3) provide more access points within communities to the Fair Trade movement."

To participate in the FTC pilot program, each of the schools in the cohort had to form a Fair Trade “team”, include Fair Trade in curriculum and school events, and source Fair Trade products. Although the 137 year-old Friends School met all of the criteria from the outset, the faculty’s Fair Trade Committee wanted to further integrate Fair Trade programming further.

Accordingly, since Fall, Committee members have mapped existing lessons in each grade; researched and acquired resources for new lessons; created original age-differentiated assemblies for pre- and lower school divisions and scheduled speakers for the middle school division; worked with MPFS’ Parent-Teacher MLK Day Committee to weave Fair Trade learning into MLK education sessions; prepared  further faculty education; developed plans for parent education centered around the school’s Winterfest, Spring Auction and Family Breakfast events; and, filled Head of School Earl Sissell’s “faculty emergency chocolate basket” with Fair Trade chocolates (shopped for locally at Media’s own Earth & State gallery!). The Committee has now launched an online resource (http://www.mpfs.org/parents/fair_trade_resources) to connect the school community with local Fair Trade retailers and supporting businesses right here in Media, PA. 

Quakers, aka Friends, were perhaps as the original “Fair Traders”:  in the 17th century, Quaker business owners were unique in setting fair fixed price for their wares rather than setting a high price and haggling with buyers.  Bruce Crowther, the UK architect of the worldwide Fair Trade Town movement who came to speak with MPFS middle schoolers in 2011, attributes his motivation as framed by the actions of Quakers, saying, "I had no idea about Quakers before. An example was the slave trade abolition -- it turns out that Quakers were the people that started that. Another example was Oxfam (a worldwide development organization that mobilizes people against poverty). I was startled to find out that it was founded by Quakers. But Quakers don't shout about themselves.”

Being two blocks away from a thriving Fair Trade Town has provided unique opportunities over the years for MPFS teachers to further enrich students’ learning about Fair Trade and build upon the “Think Globally, Act Locally” ethos embraced by the school. Now, as a Fair Trade School, even more opportunities for cross-pollination with local Fair Trade businesses and organization will abound. For more information about Media's Fair Trade culture, visit www.firstfairtradetownusa.org

Media-Providence Friends School is a Quaker day school in the heart of Media where students aged 3 through 8th Grade encounter a meaningful academics that equip them for lives of purpose. Limited space remains for the 2014-15 academic year. Visit www.mpfs.org or contact Francy Strathmann, Director of Admissions, at 610.565.1960 x104 for enrollment information.