STUDENT LETTERS

From the issue of April 20, 2006.

Composting reduces need for landfills
To the editor:
   Don’t just sit there, make a compost pile with all of your leftovers inside of it. I think there should be more compost piles in New Jersey.
   First of all, compost piles make the soil rich for growing plants. Next, compost piles don’t use chemicals! They are good for the environment but fertilizers or chemicals pollute the ground water.
   Also, compost piles are make of all natural materials that are not harmful. Most importantly, there should be fewer landfills. Fruit peels, seeds, leaves and leftovers could go into compost piles instead of landfills. So, we don’t need as many landfills.
   There should be less trash in landfills because the natural materials would be put in compost piles. I think there should be more compost piles in New Jersey.
Michelle Wludyka

Amsterdam School

Pollution making world unhealthy
To the editor:
   Millions of people are polluting our world. I believe littering should stop because our world is becoming unhealthy.
   One reason littering should stop is because animals can die. For example animals that live in the ocean can get serious injuries due to pollution. If you buy a six pack of soda and you don’t cut the rings up, sea turtles will get stuck in them.
   Another reason is it pollutes our world and makes it unhealthy. People can get sick if they swim in the polluted water. Beaches are sometimes closed because of the garbage washes up onto the shore and people can’t go to the beach because they are so dirty.
   Lastly, the most important reason is people can’t even drink from our water supply. The rivers, oceans and lakes are where we get our water.
   Remember if you keep littering, animals can get sick or even become extinct. Even humans can become sick because of pollution. If you keep polluting we can’t get clean water or swim in the oceans, rivers and lakes. Please stop littering!
   If you do the world will become cleaner and healthier.
Gabby Wagner

Amsterdam School

Noise limits must be enacted
To the editor:
   Do loud noises get on your nerves? Noise in neighborhoods should be limited to certain times of day.
   First of all, people have really loud parties. Every week a neighbor has a really loud party at night. Additionally they turn up the volume on the television and the stereo.
   Children can’t think while doing their homework in the afternoon. When I get home from school the neighbors mow their lawn for three hours in the early afternoon.
   Also, neighbors distract me with their barking dogs. Most importantly, families can’t get their children to bed. For example every night at 9 and 10:30 p.m. the train blows its horn. People also put the stereo up too loud and it can disturb people. Everyone should get some quiet time. People can’t get their children to sleep at night.
   Therefore, noise should be limited to certain times of the day.
Patrick Keller

Amsterdam School

Restrict noisy machines’ use
To the editor:
   Aren’t you tired of hearing that train whistle every day in your house? I think people should limit noisy machinery to specific times of the day because some people can’t sleep and that is very important.
   First of all, trains interrupted dinner even before I moved to Slater Court. In fact, when a train crosses a road, it puffs its whistle. At our old house, a train ran right behind our neighbors’ back yards.
   Usually, the train went by at night and I had a hard time falling asleep. Secondly, some neighbors mow their lawns and blow leaves during dinner or when I am trying to sleep.
   Apparently, people don’t have time during the day to do these noisy tasks, so that only leaves time in the evening or night.
   Also, when some people cut their lawn or blow leaves, they get carried away and bring their noisy machinery onto your property.
   Most importantly, sleep is crucial to health and the machinery prevents sleep. Some people can get cranky if they don’t get sleep or dinner.
   Let’s say it’s fall, and your lawn gets a new layer of leaves every evening. Some people blow their leaves every evening. Not waiting until the next afternoon (this did happen at least once). Plus, each time the leaves are blown, it bothers even more people than before! So it makes no sense to do this.
   Noisy machinery wouldn’t bother many people if utilized at only specific times. People should get plenty of sleep with no disturbances.
Noah Sitrin

Amsterdam School

Foam cups cause damage
To the editor:
   I presume that our planet is getting polluted by careless mistakes, like using too much Styrofoam. No one does anything about it.
   Too many people use Styrofoam for foods and coffee every day. We shouldn’t use it because you can’t bury Styrofoam in composting piles. For example, it will never dissolve in soil. Also, it can’t be burned because it has very toxic fumes.
   Another reason we shouldn’t use Styrofoam is it can’t weather away or be affected by weather at all. Second, you can’t compost Styrofoam. Another example is that most people don’t know that you can recycle Styrofoam.
   Also we can’t burn Styrofoam. For example, when you do burn it the fumes really pollute the air you breathe. Also it kills many birds and people when they breathe the smoke.
   I hope that this letter will teach people to think twice when they use Styrofoam and in time the air might be cleaner and make Earth Day every day!
Jeff Wickman

Amsterdam School

Eat better to stay healthy
To the editor:
   I believe kids should really eat better or they will get heavy.
   First, kids should eat vegetables because they are healthy. Also, vegetables like broccoli, make children stronger.
   Vegetables have lots of vitamins that help kids grow.
   Things will happen to children if they eat bad things. Plus, if kids eat too much of one bad thing they can get pimples on their face. Another thing is kids should eat healthier foods because kids can get really overweight. That’s what can happen to kids if they eat really bad stuff.
   If kids consume too much chicken nuggets they can get sick because chicken nuggets are fried. In addition, if kids eat lots of French fries they might gain weight.
   The most important reason why kids should not eat candy is that candy can decay your teeth. Also, kids can get big cavities that doctors will have to fill.
   Another thing is that if they eat bad food like jaw-breakers they might even break their teeth.
   If kids eat better food they will be healthier.
Christopher Lew

Amsterdam School