Cleaning and responsibility
On Friday, something that happened during cleaning really upset me. The students left the rubbish (gomi) in the room and went to class (period 5) without caring about it. So I made them take it away before the next period, even if it ended up making them late.
(And it shouldn't have, if they stopped dallying and actually ran or even walked quickly.)
I've been in charge of cleaning this particular room for the past two years, and this is the 6th class I've had cleaning with. And except for one girl who's now in 3rd year and just as stubborn as ever, and one group of boys from my home room class last year, this group feels like the laziest I've had. They don't clean unless someone tells them to, and they will cut corners wherever they can. I usually chat about anything with students, but with this group, I'm usually telling them to stop talking and start cleaning. Even then, with latecomers and all the chatting and playing around, we are often still there after 15 minutes. And our cleaning area should only take 5 minutes to sweep.
It's even more disappointing because they're meant to be the best class in the year. Last year, I had another group of boys from the same year level who were at least twice as good, even though one or two of them sometimes didn't come.
These students think I'm very strict, and often ask me why. Why is cleaning properly so important? Two reasons, really.
And the perspiration part is your own responsibility. Not your friends'. Not your parents'. And most certainly not your teachers'.
(And it shouldn't have, if they stopped dallying and actually ran or even walked quickly.)
I've been in charge of cleaning this particular room for the past two years, and this is the 6th class I've had cleaning with. And except for one girl who's now in 3rd year and just as stubborn as ever, and one group of boys from my home room class last year, this group feels like the laziest I've had. They don't clean unless someone tells them to, and they will cut corners wherever they can. I usually chat about anything with students, but with this group, I'm usually telling them to stop talking and start cleaning. Even then, with latecomers and all the chatting and playing around, we are often still there after 15 minutes. And our cleaning area should only take 5 minutes to sweep.
It's even more disappointing because they're meant to be the best class in the year. Last year, I had another group of boys from the same year level who were at least twice as good, even though one or two of them sometimes didn't come.
These students think I'm very strict, and often ask me why. Why is cleaning properly so important? Two reasons, really.
- First, we spend half of our lives at school. Keeping it clean helps make it a better place for learning.
- Secondly, it's important for yourself. If you can put your heart into something as simple and mundane as cleaning, then you will similarly put your heart into everything else you do.
And the perspiration part is your own responsibility. Not your friends'. Not your parents'. And most certainly not your teachers'.