Keeping a clean classroom (bathroom, writing, skills, private school)
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I have a rule in my classroom which states that if there is trash on the floor, no one is allowed to leave until it's cleaned up. All of my students agreed to this at the beginning of the year. I have their signatures and of the parents too.
Yesterday, my 3rd block class left trash on the floor (those ruffles from spiral bound paper, crumpled up paper, and other random papers), so I made them clean up the floor before they were allowed to leave(the mess which their class caused). It takes all of 30sec with everyone working together.
Last night, I got a nasty email from a parent stating that I treated her daughter like an "unpaid janitor" by having her clean up the floor.
In Japan, schools sometimes do not have custodians because the students are responsible for keeping the classroom clean. I'm hoping that my clean classroom rule transfers over to the rest of their lives. How many times have you gone into a public restroom, only to find trash all over the floor? People seem to have this mentality that "if it's not mine and I'm not responsible for cleaning it, I don't care." By allowing my students to leave with the floor dirty, it further supports this mentality.
Instead of after school detention, I'm all for having students clean classrooms. After all, the students are the ones who make a mess.
What are your rules for keeping the classroom clean?
As long as you leave a minute or two BEFORE the dismissal bell to allow them this cleaning time, I don't think it's a bad policy. I would not be in favor of keeping them AFTER dismissal.
A local private school does not have janitors and carves out 20 minutes at the end of the day in which the students do those tasks, including cleaning the dining room and bathrooms. It teaches personal responsibility and makes them think twice about making a mess.
First let me say, I get your rationale. However, one of the problems with a policy like that is that for the most part the kids that pick up the crap are usually not the ones who caused it. I used to cruise my room the last couple of minutes as they were writing exit slips or final thoughts in their notebook in part so I could stop where I saw mess and ask the group that was nearest to it to pick it up. Usually they would all look at the culprit and he, because it usually was a he, would pick it up.
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First let me say, I get your rationale. However, one of the problems with a policy like that is that for the most part the kids that pick up the crap are usually not the ones who caused it. I used to cruise my room the last couple of minutes as they were writing exit slips or final thoughts in their notebook in part so I could stop where I saw mess and ask the group that was nearest to it to pick it up. Usually they would all look at the culprit and he, because it usually was a he, would pick it up.
First let me say, I get your rationale. However, one of the problems with a policy like that is that for the most part the kids that pick up the crap are usually not the ones who caused it. I used to cruise my room the last couple of minutes as they were writing exit slips or final thoughts in their notebook in part so I could stop where I saw mess and ask the group that was nearest to it to pick it up. Usually they would all look at the culprit and he, because it usually was a he, would pick it up.
Sometimes, when I would notice the floor had become especially messy, I would draw the students' attention to it and told them that everyone had to pick up one piece of trash from the floor as their ticket out the door. As they exited the room, I held the trashcan at the door.
30 seconds before the bell I would say, "Everyone look under or around your desk and pick up a piece of trash, no matter how small." And, of course, they got sincere, appreciative comments as they deposited their "ticket".
I would've replied to that note with a note along the lines of
Children learn social skills at school also. One of those social skills is Cleaning Up After Yourself and Sharing Chores. This will serve them well at their future workplaces where they will be expected to clean up at the end of the day by their employers.
Thereby giving a dig and a finger wave at those parents who don't teach their children to tidy their own mess.
I think a policy is bad. Just tell the one nearest the trash to pick it up. It does not take long to figure out who the pigs are, then single them out. If parents whine, so be it!
I would've replied to that note with a note along the lines of
Children learn social skills at school also. One of those social skills is Cleaning Up After Yourself and Sharing Chores. This will serve them well at their future workplaces where they will be expected to clean up at the end of the day by their employers.
Thereby giving a dig and a finger wave at those parents who don't teach their children to tidy their own mess.
I have similar rules in my classroom. One of the biggest issues I have is that the kids get pea gravel in their shoes and it comes into the classroom. Well, some students can't help themselves and throw it around the room. So, if I catch them, they miss a part of their recess to do some community service in my room. They pick up all the rocks they can find on the ground.
I like the response Cinderslipper gave.
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