Nov 1, 2007 5:44 am US/Eastern
N.Y. Students Stage Walk-Out, Protest Rats
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A student at New York's Clarkstown North High School used his camera phone to take this picture of a rat found inside the school.
CBS
Hundreds of students walked out of a Rockland County High School Wednesday, voicing their concern about vermin, filling the school's athletic field and banging on the fence that surrounds it in protest. Students at Clarkstown North High School claim the "three R's" have been supplemented with two more: roaches and rats. Some held signs reading, ""Clean North" and "Rams not roaches," according to the Journal News. Cases of rat sightings have been widespread of late. According to football player Steven Jean-Baptiste, when he took his shoe out from his locker, three big roaches crawled out.
Another student used a camera phone to snap a picture of a rodent outside the high school door. The district, located just north of New York City, removed three dead rats, including a decomposing one that was crawling with maggots, at the high school's annex building, officials said. Wednesday, hundreds of kids cut class to protest the grotesque conditions. "It has to be fixed sooner or later, hopefully sooner than later," said student Stan Morodokhin. School officials blame the conditions on a nearby construction demolition. But they do recognize roaches have been an issue for years. "The problem of roaches at North High School is decades long and from my understanding, it's probably the most resilient life species that exists on the face of the earth," said Clarkstown Superintendent, Margaret Keller-Cogan. Principal Harry Leonardatos said there are certain things the students can do to help rid the school of the unwelcome visitors. "Students need to stop leaving sandwich crusts and french fries lying about. This does attract critters and other things on the floor. One thing we can do is pick up the garbage and simply throw it out," Leonardatos said. Students however, say the vermin issue is so vexing they'll protest at the school board later this month.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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