DECATUR - Ten teenagers who participated in community beautification with their teacher at Phoenix Academy I got more done Friday afternoon than picking up trash around the block north of their school.

As they drank bottled water in a classroom after their short field trip, they also brainstormed about how to keep the neighborhood clean.

"Some of the Eisenhower kids cut through there every day and leave their garbage," John Gunter complained. "It's disgusting."

When Kim Scheuermann, a math teacher for grades seven through nine, suggested the students write a letter to the high school, John wasn't sure it would do any good, but not everyone agreed.

"I think we should," Hillary Maple said.

D.J. Davis said speaking directly to the offenders could help. "If you catch someone throwing something down, tell them to pick it up," he said.

The idea of asking the Decatur School District to place a trash can near the ravine northeast of the school also came up.

Friday was the second time Scheuermann and the academy's custodian, Gretchen Silkwood, took students out to do their part for "Pitch In! Keep Macon County Beautiful."

Scheuermann said students at Phoenix are there because they've fallen behind academically, not because they're bad kids.

"They've made some bad choices, and we're here to teach them to make better choices," she said.

Some students who participated in Friday's cleanup sheepishly admitted they have littered before but would not do it again.

"People who do it don't think about how bad it's going to get," Cory Dulaney said.

The ravine behind the school was the worst spot the group encountered Friday, littered with food wrappers, drink bottles and clothes, even a toy remote-controlled car. "You almost need a rake to get all this," John said.

"This could be really pretty if we clean it up," Hillary said.

Among other items that went into the Dumpster at the former Southeast School were a page out of a math book that Traveon Hood spied soon after the group headed north along 18th Street and a CD case Cory retrieved along East Cantrell Street.

Scheuermann plans to take students out again in two weeks and may continue to do so into May.

"I'm proud of how seriously they're taking it," she said, "and they're learning more about their environment than they would sitting in a classroom."

Other students taking part Friday were Genaro Hall, Jerrin Milan, Stephanie Stanley, Ajran Sutton and Jashawn Townsend. Additional students who participated April 5 were Kevonna Cole and Suntavia Thomas.

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.