Assistant Principal - Mr Larkin

Why Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

In thirty-one years of teaching I have arrived at one definite conclusion: that there is high correlation between the way a person deals with their refuse and mess and the way they treat other people. That is, I’ve noticed that people who are careless or thoughtless about the mess they create are often careless and thoughtless in the way they treat others.

A bit far-fetched? Well, when you consider the act of putting refuse in the bin it is not just for hygienic or aesthetic purposes but it is also a recognition that others share this space and have a right to cleanliness as much as yourself. Thus, putting our rubbish in a bin is as much a social act as it is an environmental one.

The pattern that I have noticed in playgrounds is that students who don’t dispose of their rubbish responsibly are more likely to treat others with contempt, disrespect or recklessly. Whilst they may have strong peer friendships (providing the self-centred need to belong) the way they interact with the wider world is often irresponsible and hurtful. The other pattern is the nice polite student who is highly skilled at dodging cleaning tasks when on excursions or has that uncanny knack of disappearing when the group are doing a job. Such people find it difficult to serve the needs of others over their own interests. Whilst they may not be overtly hurtful of others their self-centredness impedes and limits the formation of healthy relationships.

As I reflect on the issue this poses an interesting question – is a person’s approach to rubbish a reflection of their attitudes (almost like a barometer of how they will treat others) or can we learn to be thoughtful and gracious through the physical act of cleaning, particularly in our most formative years?

I am definitely of the view that every student, before they leave home, must know how to clean the home they inhabit. If they have never scrubbed a bathroom or toilet, washed down a kitchen, vacuumed or mopped the floors, washed and ironed clothes, prepared and cleaned up after a meal then they have been seriously disadvantaged. Their development into adulthood has been impaired. These are not only fundamental life skills but vital experiences that shape our attitude and approach towards others.

Learning to clean means learning to prepare for life. Why? Because life is messy and we need to learn, as adults, how to navigate and negotiate our way through life. The act of cleaning teaches us humility – to realise that no matter what our status or position, that we are all human and important. It teaches us to realise that in our relationships we are not entitled to perfection; that anything worthwhile in life needs to be worked at and earned. That we cannot do as we please and ignore the consequences – if we are in the habit of leaving physical mess surely we learn to do so with our ‘emotional mess’. Cleaning highlights to us our humanness (all of our frailty and imperfections) and therefore we can appreciate and, more importantly, accept it in others.

The environmental scientist, Tim Flannery, argues that the further removed we are from the production of our food, the less appreciative we are of our environment. I would similarly argue that the further removed we are from cleaning up after ourselves and others the less likely we are to relate constructively with other people.

Interestingly, cleaning was one of the last lessons Jesus taught his disciples. The day before the Passover feast Jesus washed the feet of the apostles. They were dumbfounded. Jesus explained “I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

So, in conclusion, if you want your son or daughter to have fulfilling and meaningful relationships through life, teach them to clean with you and teach them early.

Mr Mick Larkin - Assistant Principal