Making Kids Clean School Bathrooms

Public schools have a terrible records with their students and bathrooms. If it's not inadequate bathroom supplies like toilet paper in the stalls, it's making students clean up other kids' poo. Oh, yes. WNBC reported that two six year olds at a Bronx charter school were punished by the principal for misbehaving, their penance being to clean up a mess another student made in a bathroom. The children's parents claim that their sons had to clean feces and are accusing the United Federation of Teachers - who run the school - of poor governance. UTF President Randi Weingarten tried to defuse the situation slightly, saying, "We think what happened is there were papers strewn in the boys bathroom. Some people think there was something under the paper, some people think there wasn't. But the bottom line is this: Kids should not be cleaning up in a bathroom."

No kidding! Six year olds can barely clean their own face, let alone their rooms! This is pretty insane - even for a fed-up principal. What's next, kids sprinkling sawdust on fellow pupil's vomit? With poo in the floor of school bathrooms, that's just another reason why kids probably hold it. And when it's about poo and it's holiday time, it's time for Mr. Hanky!

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By Jen Chung in News on December 8, 2005 11:34 AM

Comments [rss]

DL

and it's okay to expose the adults, especially the black and brown men and women, to the germs? that's what gloves, masks and cleaning solutions are for. and of course the cleaning should be done with adult supervision. these responsibilities will no doubt teach kids to respect their environment. you poop, you clean. it's simple. what's to discuss and balk about?

Jen S

Has anyone taken into account possible contraction of communicable diseases? Cleaning a messy classroom is one thing, but bathrooms are havens for germs. Ew, and imagine the trauma of seeing a classmate's poo. They'd better provide therapy to the poor kids.

garth

I too must disagree. I haven't read the story, and know none of the details, but I am all for kids cleaning, in general and as punishment. Cleaning the bathroom might be a bit harsh (elementary school restroom are stank) but I know way too many teachers who have no kind of punishment with which to hold over their kids (so much as hug a kid and you can get in some serious trouble). The kids know it and take constant advantage ot it. Teachers calling parents only goes so far since the parents of problem kids often don't give a shit.

Back when I was in elementary school everyday the last fifteen minutes were set aside for cleaning up sometimes our classroom and sometimes other rooms. The particularly unfun jobs were often used as punishment and I'm positive that it was good for everybody involved (plus, it kept the school clean).

Tydirium

It's happened before:

http://www.poopreport.com/BMnewswire/cruel_clean.html

That was a bit different, though. The poop was in a classroom.