Cleanliness is not next to godliness. Cleanliness is next to healthiness. I spend so many hours a week cleaning something. Vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, washing hands, showering, and brushing my teeth all tasks that seem to never end. I spend so many hours a day cleaning my personal domain but what about my professional domain? Do we expect that same level of cleanliness at work?

A conversation over Voxer brought this to the forefront of my consciousness. A statement was made that their room was really dirty. Much dirtier than their last school. I have to admit that over the years I have heard numerous teachers complain about how dirty their classrooms are. Think about the last conversation you participated or overheard (eavesdropper!) that sounded like this:

Person A: “Wow my custodians are awesome. They cleaned my room so great yesterday.”

Person B: “Yea they keep my room spotless. I couldn’t ask for a better janitor.”

That happens never. I don’t hear these conversations at all. It may just be me. It always seems that janitors/custodial engineers/custodians get a bad rap when it comes to cleaning.

I personally can’t complain. My custodial staff bends over backwards for me. We have a facultative symbiotic relationship. This happened because I put time and effort into our relationships. I help move things, buy them Christmas presents (this goes a loooong way to show my appreciation), and hang out outside of school hours. It also happens that we are 3 of five men that work in my building.

If my gymnasium is dirty I am not scared to pick up a broom to sweep or fill a mop bucket to clean up a spill from the basketball game the night before. This seems like a natural thing to do, yet when I ask teachers why they can’t clean their room they tell me it isn’t their job. I know during germ season lots of teachers will spray the desks and wash all the knobs and handles in the room. Why not help out after germ season?

What are your thoughts on cleanliness in the classroom? #slowchatpe

Q1: How well is your professional area cleaned? #slowchatpe

Q2: Are you willing to clean your area up when it needs to be? #slowchatpe

Q3: How do you create and nurture relationships with custodians? #slowchatpe

Q4: Do your students notice when your area isn’t clean? What do they say? #slowchatpe

Q5: What is a cleaning tip that we should all know? #slowchatpe