What do the bathrooms and English teacher Frederick Frank's coffee mug have in common? The answer is they contain the same amount of bacteria.

This was discovered when Biology students collected bacteria from different areas around the school a few months ago. The purpose of the lab was to let students observe the growth of bacteria. In order to observe this students swabbed different areas around the school.

The most popular places swabbed were the bathrooms, cafeteria and drinking fountains. Another very popular area was Frank's coffee cup. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that he has told students he never washes it.

The results for the experiment showed four areas with the most bacteria. They were tied for both first and second place. The areas with the most bacteria were the weight rooms and Biology teacher Jeff Ryan's fish tank.

Surprisingly, the amount of bacteria in the bathrooms and in Frank's coffee mug came in second place.

Student teacher Holly Bilyeu pointed out that the day students collected the bacteria Frank was out sick. Frank replied by saying it was the only day he has missed all year. He continued saying, "There is a method to my madness."

He described himself as a modern day Mithridates. Mithridates lived at the time as Julius Ceaser. He was said to sample poisons in order to build up immunity. "Not only is the coffee mug seasoned with flavor, I am more impervious to a bacterial infection than the average man," commented Frank.

Frank's idea seems to be working as he said he has only missed one day this year.

So next time you have to do dishes you can tell your parents that it will be better for your health not to.