Student laziness, disrespect leave custodians as last line of litter defense
With concerns of climate change being discussed across social media, people tend to focus on the larger picture and what will happen to the earth when it comes to plastic waste. In reality, change should begin right at home: solving the issue of the litter found in the West parking lot. Despite the many constant reminders and proclamations from the school about the litter happening in the parking lot, students have repeatedly turned a blind eye to the situation, leading to more complaints from the community. Fortunately, there are a few who are willing to put in the work to make the school a better place.
Steve Abler, West’s head custodian, is very concerned about the growing littering problem. He has seen it first hand.
“I would like to see kids be a little bit more respectful to the grounds and the building,” he said. “It’s not all of them, but there are a few bad ones. They need to understand that their parents are the ones paying taxes to maintain these buildings and it would be nice if they respected it more.”
With the transition into a semi-normal school year, opportunities for students to leave campus have risen, leading to more students leaving school daily than there are dining in the cafeteria. With colder weather rolling in, many students have retreated to the warmth and comfort of their vehicles. Coming with the return of off campus lunch, students have failed to pick up after themselves.
Even students have taken notice.
“I honestly have noticed a lot of trash lately; sometimes, when I’m driving to school, I run over pieces of trash. It really sucks because I feel personally that students should take better care and throw their garbage away,” junior Corinn Lichtwald said.
With little room for trash cans, students have been taking the “easier route” by leaving it on the ground. By taking this route, students are leaving behind more work for people in the community.
“I honestly think we could do more, I can do more, and a lot of the trash that I see is trash from lunch and masks,” Licthwald said. “We need to be more responsible and mature and throw garbage in the garbage.”
The community has also been quite vocal in voicing their concerns. These complaints are then passed on to the custodians, who are responsible for picking up after the students. Despite the frustrations, Abler’s pride in his position and team trumps everything.
“Sometimes when the kids misbehave, administration level controls on the issues, and I just have to deal with it, but other than that, I really like my job,” he said.
Although the role of a custodian may require excessive picking up after students and making sure the building is clean, Abler hasn’t regretted his decision at all.
“Well originally it just started because it had decent benefits and it was a good secure job for the future as I got into it,” he said. “I just like helping people, you know the ‘hands-on’ helping people. It was like I made my life worthwhile, that I could help people.”
Some students tend to ignore their hard work throughout the building, as shown through the lack of picking up after themselves.
“I guess [recognition is] not something that I really need, but like everyone, it’s nice to hear once in a while that you are doing a nice job and making a difference,” Abler said.
These custodians go unnoticed by the students. Their hard work and dedication to the school is often ignored, and the issue regarding trash continues to add up in the parking lot. Although there are students adding to the problem, many are still disgusted by the disrespect in the student body.
“Trash is a worldwide problem. But regarding the trash at Oshkosh West, I think it’s a big problem because that’s not our school. It’s not what Oshkosh West is about,” Lichtwald said.
By Evangeline Lee and Ruby Pluchinsky
Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue 3
November 29 2021