Cleaning Day

Everyday after school the students have to clean the entire building and take out the trash. Each kumi, or class, is assigned a part of the building to clean. Once a year, however, they do a spring cleaning where they take everything down, like the doors, curtains, ceiling fans, book shelves, etc. Everything gets taken out of the classroom and cleaned thoroughly. 

They remove all the desks.

They clean the ceiling fans.

They take down the doors and windows and wash them thoroughly.

They also wax the floors. That's all the students do for an entire day. I think if my American students were told they had to clean the school they would revolt. I think it would be good for them, though. Too many times I've seen a student throw something on the floor and say they did it to give the janitors something to do. Really? I really do think it would go a long way in making the students feel more responsibility for their actions if they were made to clean up after themselves.

One thing that irks me about Japan is there are few public garbage cans, so you have to hold on to your trash for a while. It's really annoying. I want to help keep Japan clean, but can't it be a little more convenient? Despite the lack of garbage cans, however, there is very little litter around. I mean you do see it, of course, but I think there's more to be seen in my home town.