High Point Academy - Eagle News

	Summer 2004 - Issue 16

Don't Make Me Sick
Hacking and Cracking
Please Be Seated!

News Staff

Publisher
Kevin L.

Assistant Publisher
Andria M.

Editor
Charles G.

Reporters
Bryan C.
Leanne F.
Spencer H.

   We come to school unaware of the danger. The infection. The consequences. Students carry viruses and come to school without even thinking twice of what they can do to the healthy. High Point students are getting sick by the spread of these germs.
   Why do sick students come to school when they are too sick to be here? They can easily spread these viruses to the healthy. They just don't care. They are not concerned about spreading the sickness around the classrooms.
   Whenever people come to school coughing uncontrollably, it tells one of two things. They are either too sick to be at school that day, or they haven't been taking their cough suppressants.
   Coughing and sneezing are the two primary agents contributing to the spread of sickness through our school. When a contagious student coughs or sneezes, the germs travel around the room. Afterwords, they infect the innocent bystanders. Within a matter of hours, these germs begin to do their thing and break one down.
   To help prevent the transfer of sickness by coughing, one should bring cough suppressants with him or her. In the case of a sneeze, one who is sick should use a tissue to cover the mouth. Thereafter, the tissue should be disposed of. After a sneeze, cough, or blowing of the nose, immediately wash your hands.
   Germs from a single cough or sneeze can travel up to 20 ft within a room and remain afloat for over an hour.
   Several High Point students have many opinions on this matter.
   "During the ERB testing periods, I got sick from the large amount of coughing in the classroom. I mean...I couldn't even concentrate with all of those people around me not even covering their mouths. Something needs to be done," said Bryan C.
   When asked if it is unfair for the healthy to get a virus from the sick, Derek A. said, "Yes, it's unfair. The healthy don't deserve to get sick from the contagious and inconsiderate sick people. It's not safe."
   Mitchell S. says, "Stay at home. It ain't right."
   Students all around us are getting sick from their companions who are not concerned about spreading their own contagions.
   Andy S.'s thoughts upon the matter are simple. "They shouldn't come, 'cause they spread the disease and kill everyone off."
   Katja N. believes, "I don't think they should come to school because I got sick last week from a person I am not going to name, and it's not fun."
   The answer to the problem is simple. If one is very sick, home is the place for them, not school. If one, however, has a slight sickness and isn't coughing and sneezing everywhere they walk, then it would be all right to come to school. They should still be very careful on how contagion can occur. The bottom line is clear.
   Katja N. says, "If you're not feeling very well, you shouldn't come."
   Feelings from Christine M. are, "Stay away from me!"
   Many of the local seventh and eight graders feel a similar way in this matter.
   Glen W. has his opinion on how sick you need to be in order to stay home. "Maybe just having an easy sore throat...'cause it's still a sickness...and it can still be contaminating."
   Again, Glen says, "They should not come to school. I mean...It's bad for the student body."
   Derek A. said, "Even the slightest cough, take a cough drop, dude! If it's worse than that, you ain't coming to school. Just stay home!"
   High Point students need to learn three important rules. (1) During a sneeze or a cough, cover both your mouth and nose, (2) Clean your hands often, and (3) Practice healthy habits. These are guidelines in ways to help the kids stay healthy. -- Stuart H.