Something Needs To Be Done About the Stairs

Items left on the stairs?

As we all know, due to the sweltering heat, some classes have opened their classrooms for students to chill out in to avoid the heat, especially in Buildings B and C. However, many students take advantage of this fact and camp out in either the halls or the stairs. This can be a safety and health concern that seems to get worse and worse. Issues can be crowding, food left behind, and unsupervised… ahem… public [private] displays of affection (aka, PDA).

Crowding is common and can cause accidents if not controlled properly. There is only so much room provided within the halls and stairs. What would happen if there were to be a fire in the building? Or if a fight broke out? Or some other horrible thing? Students would be left unprepared and panicked. This is why crowding is a real problem.

Food left behind can be quite a mess that, if stepped on, will be spread around the building even more than usual. Not only that, but there is always somehow a new stain of condiments splattered on the floor. Along with water, as well. This can create a safety hazard, such as slipping or tripping. The plastic containers that hold the food are also left behind. I, myself, sometimes find myself almost tripping over left-behind food containers while climbing the stairs. It’s pretty annoying, especially when multiple containers are left on the stairs. Yet, what is worse is the fact that our janitors have to deal with this. The janitors work hard to keep this campus clean and tidy, not only for the students but for the staff as well. Have some respect, people! Not only for our school, but also for our hard-working custodian staff.

And, of course, there is the unsupervised PDA. Often during passing periods, students meet up within the side staircases with their partners. And with hardly anyone watching, they go there to cuddle and kiss with their partners. While it may not seem like a big deal, it is quite an issue for students and staff who have to pass by. A student who prefers to stay anonymous states, “Yeah, sometimes I’m on my way to English and like, sometimes when I go up the stairs on the side of the building, I always see two or three couples just being all weird and making out. It’s uncomfortable to see because why couldn’t they wait until lunch or after school? I just wish they had more supervision there.” I agree with this student because it is true. Many other students feel uncomfortable passing by these couples on the stairs due to them being too “lovey dovey.” This is yet another issue that needs to be addressed.  No one wants future Emperors created there.

In the end, more supervision should be added in the stairwells. This would fix the issues of PDA, trash, and crowding, which will ultimately be better for the students, the staff, the school, and the janitors.

Keep it classy, Dinuba.