The importance of keeping school clean and how you can help

Imagine you’re in school, and there’s trash everywhere. Offensive markings on the walls. Cluttered hallways, and things that should belong in restrooms that aren’t in the restrooms. The atmosphere is foul. Would you enjoy coming to a school like this everyday, for five days a week?

This is why keeping our school campus clean is important, and should continue to be stressed. Attending a filthy school wouldn’t be pleasant for anyone. Not the administration, staff, or the students.

You may think that leaving one piece of trash won’t make much of a difference, or leaving an empty chip bag in the cafeteria won’t matter that much, but everything adds up. If people continued to leave trash around the school thinking it wouldn’t have much of an impact, the campus would become dirty very quickly, and nobody wants to go to school in that kind of environment.

Most people, especially teenage students, tend to think of cleaning as annoying, tedious, and a difficult chore. However, it doesn’t always have to be. Keep reading to find out about some simple, and fairly easy ways to keep Airport clean.

Pick up your trash

This one seems like the most obvious solution, but it’s astonishing how many people don’t consider picking up their trash and putting it in the proper place.

Use reusable cups and utensils for lunch

If you can, try to use reusable bottles/cups instead of single-use ones. This will reduce your waste and there are plenty of pretty and customizable water bottles!

Put things away after they’re used

One of the keys to keeping classrooms clean is to not let it build up with unnecessary clutter. Encourage your classmates to tidy up anything that might be out of place before they leave class, especially at the end of the day.

Encourage teachers to go paperless when they can

Not only does going paperless help reduce clutter in classrooms, it’s also better for the environment, considering how many pieces of paper are printed in schools every day.

Wiping shoes on a mat before you enter school

Something that tends to go over most people's heads is that you can very easily bring dirt into the school without even knowing it, by tracking it with your shoe. Something as simple as wiping your shoes off on a mat or kicking the dirt off of them can help keep the floors nice and clean.

Dispose of hygiene products properly

Oftentimes, bathrooms contain either used or unused menstrual products. Which not only makes the bathroom untidy, but also unhygienic. It is essential to make sure that these are being disposed of properly to reduce mess and sickness.

Flush your toilet

This one also sounds like a no-brainer but, like the first one, there is a concerning amount of people that don’t do this. Remember to flush your toilet, as letting waste build up is not only unhygienic and unsightly, but it can also cause plumbing problems for the school.

Keeping the school clean isn’t just the janitor's job. The cleanliness of the school is a result of the cooperation between students, teachers, and other staff.

Kalise T., an eleventh grade student as well as Beta Club member, was asked for a few words regarding the upkeep and cleanliness of the school. “I think Airport’s [janitorial staff] does a good job at cleaning up the school,” she said, “the problem is usually just the kids making messes.”

Not only do the members of Airport High represent the school, but the school also represents us. A clean school reflects students that care about their environment, and want to learn. Hence, a clean school is crucial for a good reputation, and good morale. There are plenty of benefits to keeping campus clean. Remember, would you want to attend a filthy school?