The Washington herald., 1907-08-30
WOES OF A JANITOR
Why Ultimatum Was Sent
to the School Board.
WILL MIND" NO MORE kids"
Nor VIII Tie Clean Any More Black
boards-What He Has to Do and
Other Things He Is Held Respon-
sIbIe For-He Wakes IrOnicaI on
the Subject OF Teachers, "YOu Bet!'

The janitor was somewhat loath TO be
disturbed in his occupation of brushing
the cobwebs from the autographed copy
Of THE Horse Fair" which hung in
bold relief in the hallway at the public
school building lie was querulous. and
threatened for a time to be uneommuni-
cative.
He poised himself ungraciOusly on the
step-ladder. as he inquired what was the
business of a Washington Herald re-
porter Then, emitting a sound that
might be either a grunt or a snort, he
descended with dignity and deliberation
from his perch. stacked his broom in a
corner, and took several cobwebs from
his hair and eyes.
He was asked TO give an expression
on the situation now existing fer the
janitors IN the public schools. and he did.
After placing his ponderous frame in
a restful position on the last step Of the
ladder, he said:
Il haven't met anybody yet who could
be in two places at once. Have you?
No. neither have T. don't claim 20 be
ubiquitous. and I can't be. There never
was but one man who was what they
cau bi-located. and ! have my doubts
about him. Haven't you? SO have L l
wasn't hired 10 be here and there and
yonder at the same time. No sir. I was
not. | wouldn't have taken the job II
/ had thought I was. But there's some In
this public school crowd-sOme Of those
teachers and supervisors-that think the
ianitor is omnipresent. so to speak. but
we amt, are we? No, you bet we amt
Details His responsibilities.
The janltor was wrathy. There was no
doubt Of IT, He was displeased with the
management Of the janitors in the pub
lie schools by the authorities thereof.
lie wanted his rights.
I have two big boilers IN the cellar 10
tend 20. ! have my waste baskets 10
clean. I have floors 10 scrub. desks TO
polish. stairs 70 dust, lights TO keep in
order; I have TO keep the basement in
good condition, have to run errands. !
have to dust books. And l have had 10
clean the hlackboards and mind the chill
dren-but don't do either any more.
do lock like nurse? No; you bet
don't. DO ! look Ike a chimney sweep or
a blackboard polisher? No. Well.
should say not. DO I look like a man
that doesn't know my rights and my
duties?
I have picked Up a thousand barrels
Of chalk that these children have thrown
around the room. and keep on doing It,
but ! won't clean nc more blackbOards.
I don't draw no fortune out OF this job,
sou know that. Yes, You bet you do. II
amt no sinecure, nor anybody's easy pie.
But it's all right so long as them black
boards are cleaned and them kids
watched
THAT the worst part of It, them kids.
You amt never had ne dealings with
them kids? No: you bet you amt. or
you'd know more about 'em- l have to
leave my boilers twict every day and go
out into the streets and watch the kids.
If a stone is gone through a window some
fussy teacher says: Where was the jani-
tOT?' And IN a few minutes the jan:tor Is
blamed for the bole in the window.
If kid gets on a street car and steals
a ride and tie principal sees MIN. he
comes running out and asks. What is
that ianltor doing?'
IF a boy hits another boy and gives
him a blue eye, the janitor is blamed.
The JHnitOr Here, the JanitOr There.
IT'S the janltor. the janItor, the tanitor
here. the janitor there, just like Mister
Dooley IN that song. His whole day Is
one Of fussing and worry. He don't set
no show 10 DO his own work but he has
to do il. Yes; you bet he does.
'The same way with the girls, II one
girl steals another's jacks. the janitor is
an accessory (whatever that Isl and a
thief for allowing it. II a girl tells an
other that her father Is the best man,
and they both begin to CITY. that janitor
must have been unRind 70 them The
children all hate the janitors. and the
janitors-well. i don't hate the children,
but there's a lots Of them that does.
"Then there's them boilers. l got to
tend to them boilers and that fire. At
recess I got 20 go out into the street and
tag after them kids and watch 'em line
up and march into their rooms and begin
to sing about their hearts being Gods
little gardens
Gods little gardeusr I see all kinds
Of heavenly things IN them hearts-in my
eye,
''Then, before I can get to my boilers,
Mr. jerks OF AfT Jones sends for me and
says it's getting so chilly in his room that
his darlings can hardly stand It: they
are putting on their coats, and must have
more heat. Than more calls for the jani-
tor. And more howls. 1t is no easy pie,
Is it? No; you bet It's not.
I'VE are going to make a stand here
and now. We are going to show EN-
where we stand Amt nobody's fools, are
We? No; you bet we amt. We showed
where W. stood to the school board yes
terday. They passed it on to the
teachers and janitors committee. We
viii carry Il farther, too
I'VE amt going tc clean no more black
boards or mind no more children, are we?
You don't know? Well. know. You bet
we amt"
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