[Alberta's Child]

Some years ago I read somewhere that schools in Japan didn't even have custodians. At the end of every day the students cleaned up after themselves.

Any truth to that?

[HotKat]

In the early 60’s students cleaned the classrooms at the Catholic grade school I attended. I have no recollection of outside custodial help. Parents painted — lead paint. :)

[Vigilanteman]

Yes and no. They have a custodian/handyman who may do the heavy stuff. The same guy may do two or more schools in areas with fewer students.

But, yes, the kids are expected to do the basic stuff in cleaning up the classrooms. A couple of thick dust and cleaning rags roughly one foot square is part of their required school equipment.

At the end of the day, the desks and chairs are stacked and put back in one corner of the room and every kid gets out their rag and cleans their assigned area. This can include the floor, windows and blackboards. Their HAN even gets a turn cleaning the loo. Oh, the inhumanity!