Cleaning Time
Unlike U.S. schools, where a custodial staff takes care of the building, Japanese schools are cleaned by their occupants. Everybody cleans, even the principal. Both teachers and students will appreciate your participation.
Which Room
If you are assigned to a cleaning task force, a specific area of the school will become your responsibility for the week or the month.
gymnasium |
|
student entrance |
|
teachers' entrance |
|
classroom |
|
teachers' room |
|
library |
|
music room |
|
hallway |
At the end of cleaning time, everyone lines up and the designated student leader checks to make sure each person finished the designated task. Teachers are also assigned to a specific cleaning team, but they often step back and allow the students to perform the managerial responsibilities.
Which Floor
The counter for floors has only one oddball: three. When referring to the first and second, and then fourth on up, the counter is
Please clean the second floor music room.
Please clean on the third floor.
Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies are generally located in several different places throughout the school. They usually consist of only a few things, however.
bucket |
|
rag for the floor |
|
rag for tabletops, counters |
|
water |
|
broom |
|
dustpan |
|
trashcan |
|
trashbag |
Cleaning time usually only lasts about fifteen minutes, and there is often music being played over the loudspeaker to keep people “whistling while they work.” A member of the broadcasting club will keep track of the time and announce when there are five minutes remaining. This is a cue for the student managers to get everyone to line up for reporting.
When planning your mini-vacations either within Japan or abroad, keep in mind that Japanese people usually use their paid vacation time for when they are ill and rarely to take time off from work for fun. Concerned that an absence will adversely affect the school or company, most Japanese people refrain from traveling except during designated holidays.
Rag Racing
Many places still practice
With large rooms, usually several people perform this floor-cleaning routine at once, so the job is quickly finished. Supposedly, being on all fours stimulates parts of your brain that you do not always use. It takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you just might start enjoying yourself. You may even end up taking this custom back with you to clean your own floors.
