Students Walk Between School Facilities and Their

¶ … students walk between school facilities and their homes, apartments and other places of residence, they are often so absorbed in the everyday educational machinations in which they participate that they do not realize that they are significant factors in the accumulation of trash on the walkways and streets they traverse. The candy and gum wrappers, looseleaf pages, newspapers, cigarette butts and packs that they carelessly discard accumulate in a fashion that can be quite disconcerting for other citizens in the area. By addressing this issue in a methodical and efficient manner, the school, students, and Student Council (as well as the citizens and neighbors with whom they share space) will all benefit immensely.

Few students would assert that they enjoy living in a pigsty. Most have been taught to clean up after themselves, and not a few have participated in any number of service projects and experiences that have benefited them, and those that they have helped. It is suggested therefore that a committee be formed to address the ever-growing problem of trash accumulation in the adjacent neighborhoods in which many of us live, work and participate in daily activities. The committee would be charged with the responsibility of gathering volunteers who will shoulder the task of picking up the trash from these neighborhoods and discarding it in the appropriate manner.

The obvious benefits to this endeavor are that the neighborhood would display a new cleanliness and tidiness that behooves a certain sense of pride. The less obvious benefits include the fact that the neighbors who reside in the nearby neighborhoods could see that the students are attempting to be a solution to the problem rather than a contributing influence to the problem.

Additionally, if the Council were to promote the fact that this endeavor was being undertaken, perhaps other outside entities would perceive the actions as positive as well. For example, the Council could send news releases to the metropolitan newspapers and other media promoting the fact that the students were engaged in this type of endeavor. Demonstrating a sense of responsibility to the public, who may perceive otherwise, can have very positive results and benefits for the school, and the students. If the Council were to promote the project in the local community newspaper(s), and neighbors could view the students on a regular basis, carrying garbage bags and picking up trash, the end result would be that misconceptions and beliefs can be changed for the good.