So, you learn something new everyday. I have lived in Okinawa for a combined total of 5 1/2 years now, and I hadn't ever noticed before or even thought about this. Japanese School children here are required to clean their schools before they leave for the day. I've even seen them out weeding the flower beds and spraying down the playground. I personally think that this is a great idea, and a way to teach children some responsibility, and maybe get them to clean up after themselves a bit if they know that THEY are the ones who will be cleaning the classroom and halls instead of the janitor. Maybe then they would think twice about littering or graffiti in the hallways. I'm sure there will be some here who disagree with me, but I'd like to hear your opinions!
What's your opinion?
(11 posts) (9 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Wow! What a novel concept. I like it because it gives the children ownership of their classroom, school and grounds. It teaches them to give back, and it teaches them a sense of community. And it has the added benefit of teaching children exactly what they should be learning at home.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No disagreements here - I think its a great way to teach kids about taking pride in their surroundings. My BIL is a custodian up in Canada and he said that sometimes he's shocked at the things kids thing of doing to make his job harder - especially in the bathrooms. I'm not sure why kids think thats a funny thing to do, but I doubt that they do it in their own homes.
I like that Japanese kids wear uniforms to school as well. I know people will disagree with ME on that, but there is something to be said for teaching kids about the "proper" way to dress for the professional world. I worked in HR for many years before becoming a SAHM, and I can't tell you how many people would show up for job interviews in jeans and a t-shirt....some of them not even bothering to comb their hair. I think that kids should consider going to school "their job" and treat it as such - they'd get alot more out of it if they did.
Posted 1 year ago # -
That is an AWESOME idea! I think that a lot of kids don't get the proper guidence at home and are not held accountable for their actions and someone is always there to clean up for them. Having the children clean up and take care of their school is an EXCELLENT way to prepare them for life! And I agree Marci uniforms are good and kids need to learn how to dress themselves properly for the business world. When I was the Assitant Director at the Day Care center I can't even begin to tell you the things people would wear to interviews or even to work!! These people were working with small children and the clothes they would wear!!! Numerous people were sent home to change their clothes! Kids need life training as well as a good education!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Cleaning up after yourself if a good life skill no matter where you learn it! I think that's a fabulous idea!
Posted 1 year ago # -
No complaint from me either...sounds like a great way to teach people to take care of what they have been given...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I love it. In fact, Japanese people in general take a good amount of ownership about keeping their homes, streets, and cities clean. It's very common to see people sweeping up and spraying their front walk with the hose, etc. No system is perfect, of course, but it's very impressive.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Marci my BIL (in Canada) is also a custodian at a school!
Get this -(I believe this is true for Canada and the US) teachers are limited by what punishments they can give kids because of the custodian unions! When I was teaching in Canada and I caught a student writing on a desk or wall or other surface I would have them come in after school and wash all the desks etc. Fitting, I thought. But I was warned that the custodians' union could go after me for TAKING AWAY THEIR WORK! My BIL even confirmed this - but he said he's NEVER tell a teacher not to make up a student clean up after himself or his peers.
I believe in ownership -give someone ownership and they take on responsibility - and that's what the Japanese are doing! And it carries forward. Those kids know what it's like to wash down a wall so I doubt many will ever spray paint one!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I agree Michelle - I didn't know about the Union thing. I DO know that it used to really upset my niece because kids would tease her about it. One day I was babysitting her after school and she came home fuming mad because some boy knocked over a garbage can and said "Don't worry, Sarah's Dad will clean it up" then he and a few friends laughed. She HATED going to school where her dad was the "janitor". I told her she should never be embarrassed about what her Dad did for a living, because he was doing honest work and providing for the family. She knew what I was saying but it didn't help, and I do understand why she would feel that way - no kid likes to have their parents made fun of by their peers, regardless of whether that kid is a jerk or not.
I think parents need to instill the "honest work is noble, regardless of what it is" mentality in their kids, instead of teaching them to "demean" people who they feel do "grunt" work. It really upsets me.
You know how ridiculous the "janitor" stigma is? My BIL's best friend and his wife both got laid off at the same time, back in the early 90's when the economy was still in the recession and finding work in Toronto was really hard. My BIL had just been promoted to Custodial Supervisor of the school he was cleaning, and they had an opening for a new guy to assist him. He spoke to his boss and got his friend the job - at Union Wages with full benefits, making around the same amount of money he had been making at the job that he was laid off from. When he told his wife she told him that there was no way that he was taking that job because she refused to be married to a "janitor" - nice huh? You can imagine that my sister really got PO'd at that. Instead of taking that job, they ended up selling their house and moving several hundred miles north to Sudbury where they both got jobs working for her fathers trucking company. They divorced about two years later but continued to work together, then the following year her father died of a heart attack and the company closed down putting them both out of work again. BIL on the other hand has been promoted again and just celebrated his 15th anniversary on the job.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I used to work at my college physical plant, and thus I worked with all the custodians, cooks, etc. I usually entered the data from all of their time cards. I really loved it, but it was hard to see my coworkers being treated badly by my fellow students. For example, if you get drunk at a party and toss your cookies anywhere but IN the toilet, I just don't think any one should have to clean that up but you! Nonetheless, they would leave this and worse for the custodial staff.
Meanwhile, I had lots of great perks in college because I knew virtually all of them by face if not name - they would almost always offer me rides if they saw me around, and they forgave me a parking ticket here and there, not to mention they were pretty great people and were always friendly and encouraging.
Posted 1 year ago #
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