Whitehill secondary school pupils

Anon posted on the 14/01/2014 1:26:36 PM

I live on Meadowpark street and I just witnessed teenagers of whitehill school just throwing all there lunch rubbish on the pavement. There was a bin straight across the road. Even worse was it was a bunch of girls, I phoned the school who told me to the phone the police! Really, what a joke. Businesses selling to these children and the school need to do more to stop the littering so please if you see it happening say to them or the school. We don't need our streets ruined by there Â pupils.

35 Replies :
Oldest First

#35 - John replied on the 2/03/2014 6:28:18 PM

If we dropped litter, we'd be fined. Couldn't the school be fined?

#34 - Mum2 replied on the 11/02/2014 11:00:27 PM

Dear Stephen

Thank you for the info and apologies I didn't know the name. You are all doing a great job. Perhaps I will join once my little ones are a bit older. Keep up the good work and thank you for keeping the place clean!!

#33 - Dennistoun Community Council replied on the 11/02/2014 6:21:54 PM

Hi,

Re Mum2, there's been a community clean-up in Dennistoun pretty much every month for the past three years. It takes place in (but isn't restricted to) the Dennistoun Conservation area; folk meet at Broompark Drive gardens at 11am on first Saturday of every month. Community Safety Glasgow provide gloves, bags and litter pickers and arrange for bags (usually around 20 bags of litter) to be uplifted that afternoon by Land and Environmental Services.

We also use the clean-up as an opportunity to get a snapshot of local area and to report issues (potholes, graffiti, fly-tipping, etc) to Council and other services for fixing.

The community clean-up is now co-ordinated by Dennistoun Conservation Society (see DCS website in menu on left). Most participants would agree that it's actually an enjoyable and pretty social event, with lots of connections being made. It's open to all and there are new folk pitching up all the time. Contact DCS to be added to the mailing list for email updates.

I'd read the initial comments in this thread and, as a member of Dennistoun Community Council, had flagged up with the Clean Glasgow / Neighbourhood Improvement Team. They'd been looking to engage local schools in environmental and community awareness activities, so it proved to be a catalyst in arranging this.

Stephen

#32 - Mum2 replied on the 10/02/2014 12:13:51 AM

It would be good to see young people taking pride in their community so am all for the litter picking by pupils. Â Maybe make them realise that's it not good to do. Â Character building. Â There is already a group of adults who go around litter picking but can't remember their name.

#31 - eileen watson replied on the 8/02/2014 8:31:24 PM

when I went to the old whitehill there was none this throwing litter about. because you new you would get the belt if you did

#30 - James C replied on the 7/02/2014 8:12:05 PM

Well he is not doing it end of as for getting a ribbing i don't see that happening as i have spoken to the fathers of two of his friends and both are not over the moon about the whole thing to say the least.

#29 - Swan replied on the 7/02/2014 3:39:10 PM

Mentalist, Mort and anon, I agree absolutely. I took part in litter pick-ups as a kid, and really enjoyed the experience. My parents certainly didn't see it as exploitation - they would have laughed at the idea - and, in fact, they came along with me to help.
It's so disappointing to see what was actually a very positive thread soured by such a petty gripe.
Well done to the original poster for raising the issue, and to David for following it up. Don't ever let the negativity of a small number of people put you off trying to do something good for your community.

#28 - anon replied on the 7/02/2014 2:20:13 PM

@The Mentalist - agreed.

It's the kid I feel sorry for, he'll get a real ribbing if his pals find out a relative of his has been over to say he's above picking up litter like the rest of them.

James C - you need to look at it a different way - rather than viewing this as being about your relative being punished for someone else's littering, why not view it as a community activity promoting a clean local area and hopefully encouraging this mindset in all the kids for the future - what's the problem with this? Â The adults that drop litter now are the ones who weren't told any better and probably didn't do things like litter picks when they were at school. Â If we want to encourage everyone to take pride in their local area this is the right way to do it, instill these values when they are young, to last a lifetime.

I often pick up other folk's rubbish because I can't stand to see it, I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist over it.

#27 - lord dennistoun replied on the 7/02/2014 2:18:42 PM

james c .why dont you pay your relative if your so concerned about free labour,but you must pay the minimum working rate.

#26 - Mort replied on the 7/02/2014 2:17:04 PM

Why should we do it? I put my rubbish in the bin. I carry my rubbish to the next available bin if there's not one near.

What's council tax got to do with it.?The bin men and the street sweepers do their bit in keeping the place tidy. It's also not the responsibility of the shop keepers in my opinion. I get the extra bins point but they sell a product and expect like everyone else for the container to be binned/recycled and not chucked onto the road/pavement.

James, you can't deny that this is going on every break time and to call it free labour like it's going to put jobs at risk is frankly ridiculous.

Believe you me, if they were made to pick up the litter the way everyone else has agreed, they would eventually think twice about dropping it in the first place.

#25 - The Mentalist replied on the 7/02/2014 10:17:24 AM

"I have a relative at whitehill and Â he will NOT be used as free labour to pick up litter he didn't drop.I will be having a word with the school sometime next week about all of this."

And that is at the crux of the whole problem.

#24 - James C replied on the 7/02/2014 10:16:35 AM

If you want the litter picked up so bad do it yourself as i said before my relative will not be used as free labour why pay council tax if we are just going to make children do it?I will be speaking to Ms Â Connor the headteacher about all of this (pardon the pun)rubbish at some point in the future.

#23 - Mum 2 replied on the 6/02/2014 11:11:38 PM

Personally I think all the school should be involved. I've been involved in litter picking with my child at their primary school. Good to instil values at an early age. Even my wee one at nursery has been talking about litter picking.

#22 - anon replied on the 6/02/2014 7:55:41 PM

James C, bit of over-reaction there no..? Â I did litter picks several times at school without ever being the one that dropped anything and I didn't care one jot. As well as teaching me and the rest of my class to take pride in our environment it was a good way of missing out on maths or R.E or whatever dull subject we had that morning. We used to take bags of tins we'd collected at harvest festival to the local elderly as well - was that free labour too? Or stacking chairs after assembly that you didn't personally sit in - that's free labour too, I guess? Â I doubt your relative will thank you for complaining.

#21 - Mum replied on the 6/02/2014 4:07:48 PM

Just seen this good job everyone who had issues and concerns contacting the school rather than just gassing about it, I will also contact the council in support of the bin situation. Â I'm a mum of a 1st year happy to have the kids go out litter picking now and then but I agree it has to go all the way up through the school years. Â Teaches them to take pride in their community/school a bit of community spirit etc.
I believe or would hope most people teach their kids the rights and wrongs as tbh this is nursery stuff putting your stuff in a bin.
But even though we are strict on our "little cherubs" and have taught them right from wrong what our "little cherubs" do when mum and dad aren't around is a different matter.
I also think though that all the local businesses that sell anything to the school kids on Duke Street and The Parade should be encouraged to provide bins outside their premises even if its a cheap Asda bin put out for break times and taken back into the shop.
It's a horrible thing to see its a nuisance but it's easy corrected if everyone's on the same page.
Will speak to my daughter and friends when they are up to remind them, but judging by the wrappers and packets and juice bottles that are stuffed in her bag I'd hope she's not contributing to the mess.

#20 - James C replied on the 6/02/2014 11:05:22 AM

No i am Â not missing the point they are in school to learn not to run about the streets dennistoun picking up litter throw Â by the people of dennistoun as well as the pupils whats next graffiti removal dog mess clean up get a grip.

#19 - anon_l replied on the 6/02/2014 9:15:53 AM

James C you are missing the point entirely. If you are taught in first year to pick up rubbish left then the hope is you will carry the message through school life with you. Hence in a few years this problem will lessen
Â Good point, but still not fair its only the 1st years doing it. The older kids will know this is happening and think ah well ill just drop it for someone to pick up. The WHOLE school should be involved.

#18 - Craig replied on the 6/02/2014 9:08:36 AM

#17 - anon_l replied on the 6/02/2014 9:07:22 AM

Sorry my last message was meant to start with OP (Original poster) Not OK.

#16 - anon _l replied on the 6/02/2014 6:34:08 AM

Ok we are aware it wasn't you making comments about working class. And fair dos on apologising fir sounding sexist.

I don't think it's particularly fair that it's only 1st year doing the litter picking. Plus should they really be tidying up the mess made by other children. It's great something is being done by the school, I just don't think it's the right something. Also blaming lack of bins. Fair enough there probably isn't enough but as someone previously said, I was taught that if there was no bins near by, your rubbish went in your pocket. This is the issue. They don't CARE whether there is bins or not.

#15 - James C replied on the 6/02/2014 12:26:22 AM

I have a relative at whitehill and Â he will NOT be used as free labour to pick up litter he didn't drop.I will be having a word with the school sometime next week about all of this.

#14 - Anon replied on the 5/02/2014 6:35:57 PM

Hi, I started this thread and sorry if I seemed sexist but I was only meaning that usually it's boy trying to show off and throwing stuff about, at least that's how it was when I was at school so I was surprised that Â it was girls doing it. I DID not mean it as sexist. I only done one post. The first was the only post I have put. So if there is other anon posts talking about working class then that's not me. I totally agree with the school and I Â did get in touch with the school and the council about extra bins. For all you who moan about this thread at least i did one something about it and the school thankfully are doing something about it. Instead of having a moan at what someone's saying. DO something proactive. I did and now something is getting done.

#13 - Mort replied on the 5/02/2014 3:51:56 PM

I appreciate that David. Good to see the issue has been raised and action taken. A side note however would be that the majority of the time I've seen litter being dropped it's been the older kids. Maybe the 5th years should do an hour here and there. Don't mean to nitpick and thanks for your efforts.

#12 - David replied on the 4/02/2014 2:14:35 PM

Hi there, I am Chair of the Parents Committee and have brought this thread to the attention of the School, this is an issue that has been a problem for sometime now and the teachers and head of school have acted upon this best as they can. they have brought this to the attention of the pupils and have organised Litter Picks in the past for this, these will also happen on:
Thursday 27th February - 1st year class (1) 1.25pm - 2.25pm

Friday 21st March - 1st Year class at 8.55am - 9.55am

Thursday 24th April - 1st year class (2) Â 1.25pm -2.25pm

Friday 9th May - 1st year class at 1.25pm - 2.25pm

As well as this we feel what adds to the problem is the lack of bins to cover main areas of Litter problem, with just one bin serving the main shops in question, there is not enough room to contain the litter volume, Â we do not in any way blame the shops and along with the Parent Council will encourage them to request more bins placed within the problem areas.
Regards
David
Whitehill Parents Council

#11 - person replied on the 30/01/2014 8:05:51 PM

anon, you seriously think it's acceptable to litter because you're working class?
I despair...

#10 - anon_l replied on the 30/01/2014 5:35:16 PM

I whole heartedly agree that its completely sexist saying its worse if ita girls but also disagree that its acceptable because we live in a working class area. Note you used the word traditionally. There are plenty of people in Dennistoun that arent working class, and there are also plenty of working class people who I'm sure wouldnt appreciate being tarred with that kind of brush and dont like litter being dropped.

#9 - anon replied on the 30/01/2014 3:03:37 PM

Why is it worse if it's girls? It isn't, it's exactly the same as if it's boys. That's so sexist and this whole thing is so middle class, if you're going to move into a traditionally working class area then be prepared for the children at the school to do the things children at schools have always done. It's a straw man anyway, there is definitely much less rubbish on the streets these days than when I was at school, get over it. If it bothers you that much or it's in your garden or whatever then go and tell them, they're just kids.

#8 - triangle replied on the 23/01/2014 1:20:44 AM

I agree word-for-word with Craig's comments.

#7 - Anon replied on the 21/01/2014 10:25:48 PM

Has anyone contacted the Headteacher and made her aware of this thread on the forum?

#6 - Anon replied on the 21/01/2014 10:25:08 PM

At my old high school if there was problems during lunchtime out with the school then whoever was responsible would have the privileges of going out of the school for there lunch taken away. It's ridiculous and disgusting that the school seem to be doing nothing. It's quite recent that it has got worse and they just say phone the police. Â Could the school not ask every pupil to do there bit and organise a day where they should tidy the area that they seem to think its okay to abuse maybe that will stop them.

#5 - Craig replied on the 21/01/2014 10:24:15 PM

It's not just kids to be fair. I have seen grown ups and old people on duke street chucking their rubbish onto the street.

Likewise, I am shocked by this as i grew up being told off for rubbish and learning never to leave any on streets.

But rubbish is not a shops fault. They don't encourage it and if they don't sell to kids others will.

#4 - Mort replied on the 21/01/2014 3:31:25 PM

I usually don't but on this occasion I had to. I was walking up Armadale Street with a four year old earlier. The Whitehill kids were out having their lunch. I won't mention anything about the language. This one young fella had a large Subway cup full of lemonade and just stood there in the middle of the street and chucked it high over his head. It exploded everywhere and walks off leaving the cup, lid and straw outside someone's house. Of course the four year old asks why the boy did this. This got me so angry and I went up to him and said well done for setting a great example to nursery aged kids and that he must be very proud of himself. Neither him or his pals said a word as I think they were in shock at someone actually saying something to them. They get away with it every other day so why not today. I had a good mind to go in and see the head and ask them to do a presentation on how they should behave during their lunch break. I just wish the parents could see some of it.

#3 - gg replied on the 18/01/2014 12:40:09 PM

it is how they are brought up by their parents so no point blaming the shop that sells them things. when i was a kid (and even now) i always put rubbish in a bin and if i can't find a bin i would put it in my pocket or bag until i did find one.

#2 - anon replied on the 17/01/2014 4:35:51 PM

When I was at school an old woman started taking pictures of people who were throwing rubbish near her house so she could show the school who it was.

They turned it round on her and told her to stop doing it.

What a joke.

#1 - Mort replied on the 16/01/2014 6:29:46 PM

I've seen this for myself. It seems it's much cooler to chuck something over your shoulder than walk over and put it into a bin. Try pulling them up and wait for the abuse to begin. I know young people get a hard time sometimes but it's difficult when you see this kind of behaviour time and time again. Though to be fair I don't see why the businesses should have to deal with it. Young people are taught from an early age that rubbish goes in the bin. At least that was the case when I was growing up. Things change though. Maybe I'm behind the messy times.

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