We are filthy. 

Some of us are worse than others, but we are all pretty messy, and it shows as we walk through the halls, go to the restroom, or go to lunch. The proof of our filth surrounds us each day.

“These students are in high school. They should know how to clean up after themselves,” said janitorial worker Deaundr’a Shaw.

Why do we leave the school we love in such a mess? We need to realize that the trash we leave around does not just magically disappear.

“We are underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated,” said Darryl Ayers, one of the janitorial workers of White Station.

Seven people clean the entire school each day; three people during the school day and four people after regular school hours. Each worker is assigned rooms and areas to clean.

“The girls’ bathrooms are the worst,” said Patricia Sain, who primarily cleans restrooms and hallways. “I have been doing this for ten years, though. Nothing really surprises me anymore.”

The janitorial staff is just as much a part of the school as the teachers and students. They are the ones who deal with the leftovers of our laziness and the evidence of our irresponsible behavior.

Clean up after yourself. It’s really not that hard. If you see trash lying around, throw it away. Let’s treat this school with the respect that it deserves.