The class teacher, Mrs. Madison, asked her students what they want for lunch today, like she does every day. The students each vote for what they want to eat, and the food with the most votes is what everyone eats that day. Today, little Johnny and his two friends want to eat strawberries for lunch, little Sherman and his friend want watermelon, and little Sally and her friend want apples.

"Okay class. Today we are all having strawberries because they got three votes, while watermelon and apple got only two votes each," said Mrs. Madison.

"I'm allergic to strawberries," said little Sally.

"That's not fair!" complained little Sherman. "We eat whatever Johnny and his friends want because they have the most friends and win the vote everyday!"

"This tastes nasty," yelled little Sherman's friend, little Judy.

"You get what you get and you don't get upset," responded Mrs. Madison.

"Sherman is right!" little Johnny explained. "Some people voted for watermelon or apple and didn't get what they wanted. It isn't fair that my friends and I get to chose lunch everyday just because we have the largest group. Little Sally can't eat strawberries. There are four people who don't want strawberries today, and only three who do."

"Then your options are to either all agree on the same food everyday, or for you to not have a choice and I will choose your lunch," Mrs. Madison announced.

"We can't all agree on the same food everyday!" responded little Johnny.

"You're right. And I can't take away your right to chose lunch. Instead we need to find a fair way to choose what we eat for lunch everyday."

"Instead of doing a vote with everyone, each group of friends will sit in groups. Each group will sit with a teacher to help them make the right choice," Mrs. Madison announced.

"What difference would that make?" asked little Johnny.

"Well, the teachers will help make a good choice for everyone, especially because some students have allergies that teachers know about, but fellow students don't. Then the teachers can make the vote that is good for their group, but still fair for the students in the other groups.