There was a new kind of French Bulldog this summer.

Twenty students at King’s Fork High School went to France this summer, along with one of the school’s history teachers, Sarah Hershey, and seven adult chaperones. Fellow teacher Jen Hensler assisted, and the trip was facilitated through EF Educational Tours.

Photos show the smiling group in front of landmarks such as the Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and the white cliffs of Étretat in Normandy. In France, they were able to explore architecture older than any here in America, learn about a different culture, explore new cuisine — oui, including escargot — and see historic landmarks such as the Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I was signed on June 28, 1919.

Hershey said she hopes the trip fostered a love of travel, history, culture and further education for the students. In the story and in comments on the story and social media, students gushed about how much they enjoyed it, and parents were thankful their teens had a great time.

“It was a 10-out-of-10,” rising senior Hanna Williamson said. “I really enjoyed my time.”

We think a high school education should be about more than just learning Shakespeare, calculus and chemistry and memorizing facts about world history and cultures. High school students should arrive at their graduation not only dressed in cap and gown but also clothed with kindness, empathy and respect for others and equipped with the skills to navigate the real world, be good citizens and stewards of their resources, and pursue their thirst for knowledge.

Trips like the one to France that Hershey organized can be a big part of that for the students who are able to take advantage of them. We are pleased to hear she has another one planned for next summer to visit Switzerland, Italy and the French Riviera.

Merci, Ms. Hershey and all of your assistants and chaperones, for helping to make an incredible memory for these young people.