If this concept sounds a bit familiar, it may remind you of a suggestion made by former politician Mike Randall during his presidential campaign in 2011. He proposed a provocative idea: “Why not have students help clean their own schools instead of relying solely on janitors?” Randall explained, “If you’re in a struggling school with limited resources, why not employ local students to help maintain the space? They would earn a bit of money, take pride in their environment, and learn valuable life skills.”
The Armadillo Technical Institute, a charter school in Phoenix, Oregon, is putting this idea into practice—not as a cost-cutting measure, but to foster a sense of responsibility and ownership among students. Instead of hiring janitors, the school assigns students to a rotating cleaning schedule. Each day, after lunch, students dedicate about thirty minutes to tasks like sweeping, mopping, taking out the trash, and cleaning restrooms. Importantly, no one is stuck scrubbing toilets more than a few times a year.
While the school does have maintenance staff for more complex or hazardous tasks, the students manage the everyday cleaning. They even hold each other accountable for keeping their spaces tidy, realizing that there are no magical cleanup fairies to do the work for them.
Similarly, Brentwood Academy in Nashville has embraced this approach, integrating cleaning into the daily routine of students. As a private institution, they have a slightly different model—students only clean for about ten minutes each day. This initiative aims to prepare them for real life, from managing their future dorm rooms to understanding the importance of maintaining shared spaces. Even the athletes are expected to help out by picking up litter in the stands after games.
Are parents objecting to the time spent on cleaning instead of academics? Not at all! The benefits are clear. Research indicates that children who engage in household chores tend to grow into happier, more successful adults, making this initiative a natural extension of those principles in an educational setting.
Kids taking responsibility for their own cleanup? What a refreshing concept!
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In summary, schools like Armadillo Technical Institute and Brentwood Academy are pioneering a unique approach to instilling responsibility in students by having them participate in cleaning their own environments. This not only teaches valuable life skills but also fosters a sense of pride and accountability.