ABOUT

CONTENTS

EDITORIAL

ARCHIVE

LAGNIAPPE

MAST

SUBMISSIONS

The School
by Kristen Iskandrian

JANITOR

“In thousands of schools he is the only adult male in the building.” Charles Everand Reeves & Harry Stanley Ganders, School Building Management: The Operation and Care of School Plants (New York, 1928), p. 317.

“A married man will usually be more dependable and steady and is less likely to leave his employment than an unmarried man.” Charles Everand Reeves & Harry Stanley Ganders, School Building Management: The Operation and Care of School Plants (New York, 1928), p. 11.

“Possess an unimpeachable character, good health, good speech habits, the right attitude toward his job, a good nature, sympathy toward children; must be responsible, honest, and industrious, and possessed of a scientific attitude toward his work. Preferably should be a non-user of tobacco.” Charles Everand Reeves & Harry Stanley Ganders, School Building Management: The Operation and Care of School Plants (New York, 1928), p. 10.

“In giving pupils an opportunity to know him, friendly relations between the janitor and the children are encouraged.” Charles Everand Reeves & Harry Stanley Ganders, School Building Management: The Operation and Care of School Plants (New York, 1928), p. 370.

“Orderly Hair. Since the custodian’s work is more or less dusty, his hair probably will become soiled rather easily. It is reasonable to suggest that he wash his hair at least once a week. Of course it should always be neatly combed. An unkempt, disorderly head of hair detracts from what otherwise might be a neat appearance. The hair should be trimmed at least once a month.

Daily Shave. The custodian should shave at least once a day, preferably in the morning before going to school. Although many people prefer a clean-shaven face, it is his right to wear a mustache if he chooses to. However, if he does wear one, it should be kept neatly trimmed.

Daily Bath. To be really clean, it is necessary for the custodian to bathe frequently. For the sake of both decency and good health, he should take a daily bath. His work is naturally more or less dirty and some of his jobs may cause him to sweat. The odors arising from this blending of dirt and sweat are disagreeable to others.

Neat Fingernails. So far as practicable, he should keep his fingernails clean and neatly trimmed. Although this may seems to be a trifling matter, it is just another of those small details that mark good grooming.” Henry H. Linn et al, The School Custodian’s Housekeeping Handbook (New York, 1948), p. 13.

“Of 57 sets of rules and regulations making specifications for time of dusting, 48 require that it be performed in the morning before the opening of school, while 9 require that it be performed after the sweeping of the rooms in the afternoon or evening.” Charles Everand Reeves & Harry Stanley Ganders, School Building Management: The Operation and Care of School Plants (New York, 1928), p. 158.

I found Mr. Buddy in an empty classroom, gnawing on a chicken leg, well before the bell rang. We looked at each other with the same eyes, the eyes of early morning, of exile, of before-the-others. Everything about him was thick and dirty: his crew cut; his black t-shirt, jeans, and belt; his brown work boots; his fingers; his protruding belly and chin. Every day I looked for him, but we never said a word. I knew the route; it never varied: “1.Walks and Entrances; 2. Corridors; 3. Stairs; 4. Offices; 5. Classrooms and Libraries; 6. Laboratories and Shops; 7. Toilet Rooms; 8. Auditoriums; 9. Gymnasiums; 10. Swimming Pools; 11. Locker and Dressing Rooms; 12. Custodial Service Areas; 13. Heating and Mechanical Service Areas.” Henry H. Linn et al, The School Custodian’s Housekeeping Handbook (New York, 1948), p. 235. In his presence I could see what he saw, the footprints and smudges and electricity and mildew. The studs in the walls. He lived underground, I felt certain, deep in the bowels of the school. I wanted to see the furnace, and the narrow bed where he slept, and the rusty locker where he kept a change of thick black clothes. If he left the premises, all of it would disappear.

“The head janitor-engineer should live near the school building so that responsible school officials and teachers may call for keys if needed.” Charles Everand Reeves & Harry Stanley Ganders, School Building Management: The Operation and Care of School Plants (New York, 1928), p. 369.

GYM (click for next section)