Mice in Hammond- by Banoo

Have you ever been in this situation? You're in your class, writing an assignment and suddenly a girl screams, the boy sitting behind her, jumps on his desk. You look around the room and see a fur ball roll across the room. More children scream and scramble on top of their desks. You realize in horror what you saw: A mouse. Francis C. Hammond should do more to get rid of and prevent mice in school. Mice chew and destroy property, disturb classes, could affect our lunches, and carry dangerous diseases.

Some people deny that Hammond has a rodent problem, but more than 50% of all Hammond 7th grade students on team 7-2 have seen at least one mouse in the building, according to a survey of 7-2 students. One of the reasons Hammond should do more about rodents entering the building is the fact that mice cause damage to learning utensils and supplies. They could chew on clothes and books of the school. In worst cases they could gnaw on a cable and cause a black out or start a fire. It may cost to get rid of and prevent rodents, but it will probably cost more replacing the supplies that they damage and destroy.

Many children in Hammond are afraid that their lunches are being affected by the rodents in the school. More than 82% don't feel comfortable eating food prepared in a building with mice (analysis of math survey). Although teachers and staff members assure that the food in the cafeteria is safe, who is to say there aren’t rodents in the kitchen late at night, when no one is in the building?
Another reason why Hammond should do more against rodents is the disturbance mice cause in class. In 2006, a mouse entered Ms. Johnstons room, while she was teaching class. The children were terrified in the middle of all the chaos. Luckily, none of the students were harmed, but what would have happened if one of them had been bitten?

Let's face it, rodents carry dangerous diseases. Rickettsial pox, Salmonellosis, and Hantavirus are some common diseases that mice can easily spread on to humans. Mites that are found on mice pass on Rickettsial pox. It can cause headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, and other symptoms, according to (hppt://dermnetnz.org/viral/rickettsia.html). One of the most dangerous diseases is HPS or Hantavirus. This pulmonary disease is contracted if someone comes in contact with an infected rodent or its droppings or saliva. Although it is rare, HPS can be deadly (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/). Having mice in our school puts students at risk of contracting diseases like these. So isn't it logical to do something about the mice in Hammond?

It is evident that Francis C. Hammond has a rodent problem and something must be done. None of the students thinks enough is done against mice in the school (analysis of math survey). There should be strict rules about storing and eating food in classrooms. An exterminator should come at least once a month over the week end to check that our school is rodent-free. For the students' and school's benefit, it is necessary to do more about the mice in our school. If we don't, who know what will happen?