“PRETEND you’re a VACUUM CLEANER!”

I often get the junior classes that I teach to ‘clean’ the classroom carpet at the end of the school day by pretending they’re vacuum cleaners. 

“Switches on. Check. Go!” 

Within a few minutes all rubbish has been cleaned up and put into a rubbish bin and any left out equipment is quickly put back in its storage space. Everyone helps. 

I tell the class that we are being kind to the school cleaners. When I was a high school teacher, one of the deputy headmasters would empty the dishwasher every day before most teachers were at school. This from a man who started his school day before 6am and often earlier. He didn’t have to do that, but he was simply thinking about others. 

At the same school, all teachers of Year 9 students would ring the parents/caregivers to let them personally know how their son was coping with the first few weeks of school. Sometimes an anxious voice would answer the phone until you reassured them that nothing was wrong and a good start had been made to the school year. 

During my years as a primary school teacher I would sometimes send personalised handwritten notes home with a student with details about their academic and social progress and achievement. Parents were very appreciative. 

At my favourite Raglan cafe a friend (and cafe customer) regularly cleans the outside footpath. I’m sure he doesn’t make vacuum cleaner noises, but he does his bit! And that’s all we need to do.