Dear Sir,
I had to write when reading an advertisement from Greenfield School for a Litter Picker. I could not believe the College felt it was right to spend over £2,800 of their education budget, in such dire times, to actually hire someone to go round picking up litter after students. It seems obscene!
I understand the school’s main aim is to teach children the “3 R’s”, but I would have thought it just as important to teach respect for themselves and the community around them. Dropping litter is a public offence and it would seem more appropriate to get students to pick up their own litter, which hopefully would become a good habit in and outside school grounds.
People like myself, when out walking, are having to pick up litter dropped by students along the paths to and from Greenfield College.
If it is too much trouble, or there is not enough time for staff to teach students basic community values and not to drop litter, then perhaps instead of giving detention, they could get students to litter pick and do something constructive to work off bad behaviour?
Perhaps Greenfield’s budget is so overflowing that a mere £2,800 wouldn’t make any difference, but in any case teaching the upcoming generation to have respect for their community should be of paramount importance.
I would be interested to hear the Head Teacher’s comments on this matter.
Pat Nash
Reply from Headteacher
Greenfield Community College values its place in the community and I can assure you that we have a major programme to develop good citizenship as part of a rounded education. The school achieved record results again this year and was commended by OFSTED inspectors for the sustained improvement in behaviour.
We employ a wide range of staff to enable us to set high standards and develop the young people in our care. Our facilities are open to the public every night until 10.00pm as well as at weekends.
David Priestley, Headteacher
