The Morning the Water Would Not Move
Rain had fallen heavily during the night. By Wednesday morning, dirty water had collected beside the classroom blocks and across part of the main footpath.
Plastic bottles, food wrappers and other rubbish were packed inside the school’s drainage channels. The water had nowhere to go.
Akello stopped at the edge of the footpath.
“That drain looks as if it has been eating rubbish for weeks,” she said.
Joel studied the brown water. He had heard something from someone who had heard it from somebody else, so naturally he felt fully qualified to explain everything.
“The clean-up has been cancelled,” he announced. “There is nothing we can do now.”
Joel sounded certain. This was unfortunate because certainty and accuracy are not twins.
A few students turned away. Others complained about the smell. One student suggested climbing into the drain and pulling out the rubbish.
“Absolutely not,” Akello said. “We should not enter a drain when we do not know what is inside it.”
She pointed towards the noticeboard.
“Did anyone actually read the official notice?”
Nobody answered.
The notice had been there since assembly.
Source A: The Official Notice
CornerStone Hill Secondary School
NOTICE: SCHOOL DRAINAGE CLEAN-UP
Wednesday, 14 August
Plastic bottles and other rubbish have blocked drainage channels near the classroom blocks. Dirty water is collecting around classrooms and footpaths.
The Environment Club clean-up will take place today at 3:30 p.m.
Participants should meet beside the library veranda. Environment Club members, class representatives and other registered volunteers may participate.
Students may help by collecting visible litter from safe, shallow areas under the supervision of teachers. Protective gloves, rubbish bags and simple cleaning tools will be provided.
Students must not:
- enter deep drains;
- touch broken glass, medical waste or unidentified objects;
- remove heavy drain covers; or
- work without adult supervision.
If water still does not flow after visible rubbish has been removed, students should stop working and report the blockage to the supervising teacher. The school administration will arrange further inspection.
Students and staff are reminded to use rubbish bins and help keep drainage channels clear.
— Deputy Head Teacher
Source B: Joel’s Message
The Environment Club clean-up has been cancelled. Do not go to the library veranda. The drains are too badly blocked, and students cannot do anything about the problem.
The Environmental Problem
Plastic bottles and other rubbish have blocked the school’s drainage channels. Water is no longer flowing properly, and when it rains, dirty water collects around classrooms and footpaths. This may cause flooding, unpleasant smells and health problems.
The school has organised a clean-up, but an inaccurate message claims that the activity has been cancelled. Even after the first clean-up, the problem may return if learners continue disposing of rubbish carelessly.
As members of the Environment Club, prepare a clear message to the school community explaining:
- the problem affecting the school;
- what students can do immediately to restore the flow of water safely;
- what they should do if the water still does not flow after removing the visible rubbish;
- how the school can prevent the problem from happening again; and
- how students, teachers and school leaders can work together to protect their shared environment.
Your proposed actions must be safe, practical and beneficial to the whole school community. Students must not enter deep drains or handle dangerous waste without adult supervision.
The Environmental Problem
Member discussion