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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Parents cleaning their dc school

67 replies

dizzybiatch · 17/08/2012 16:38

My dh and I are having a debate.

This is more of a are 'they' being unreasonable.

So due to council cut backs our little school has had the cleaners hours cut. Teachers say she does the best she can in the time but its not enough and school needs a good spring clean which the parents have been asked to do.

My dh is outraged, thinks its a basic requirement and the council/school need to sort it out. I think if that is the situation I am happy to clean with the other parents.

How would you feel? My dh thinks the abu to ask the parents.

OP posts:

GoldenHandshake · 17/08/2012 16:40

The school ANBU, they are being resourceful, it is not compulsory, it's voluntary. I don't see what your husband's problem is really.

JumpingThroughHoops · 17/08/2012 16:41

It's not compulsory is it? so not everyone will turn up. Some people will be on holiday, some will have family commitments, illness and so forth.

FWIW at sons primary there were often rallying calls over weekends and holidays. Often the PTA would buy something (eg decking) and there would be a call for carpenters, handymen and gardeners to come and help.

No bad thing in my book, enforces a sense of community.

NameChangeGalore · 17/08/2012 16:41

Isn't this a potential health hazard? What if someone fell from somewhere dusting? Who'd be responsible?

nosepeg · 17/08/2012 16:44

I agree with your dh that it is a basic requirement and is a poor reflection on our government that our schools can't afford to maintain themselves without calling on volunteers.

However that being the reality, I would turn up and muck in and so would dh and the children. It isn't the individual teacher or school's fault and it is important (if not to our government!) that the children have a clean and orderly environment to learn in.

drinkyourmilk · 17/08/2012 16:46

I think its disgraceful that the council isn't providing a clean place for the children to learn, and would be looking at ways of pressuring them to reinstate the cleaners hours. Having said that, in the mean time, I would of course be happy to help the school spring clean. Same way as i would give something for a raffle, bake cakes, and help in the classroom when i could. Don't see the difference.

CrispyCod · 17/08/2012 16:50

First the schools, next the hospitals .....!!!

FallenCaryatid · 17/08/2012 16:50

I think that the older children should be organised into groups and taught how to clean properly, they could have a shift a week. Gloves provided.
Surely it fits with all the other lifeskills schools are now expected to include in the curriculum?

FallenCaryatid · 17/08/2012 16:51

I could run it as an after school club.

JumpingThroughHoops · 17/08/2012 16:53

H&S would come into play - cleaning chemicals - you just know one child would drink it/eat it/pour it in their eyes/ears etc.

FallenCaryatid · 17/08/2012 16:56

We are very limited in the number of products permitted in school, and I was thinking Y5 and 6, to fit with all that healthy living and citizenship and rights and responsibilities.
How to clean a floor.
How to unblock a toilet.
How to use a hoover.
That sort of thing.

JumpingThroughHoops · 17/08/2012 16:59

I don't have issue with that at all - but you can bet your bottom dollar someone would. Shove 'em up a chimney, thats what I say!

GnocchiNineDoors · 17/08/2012 17:01

Well, if the teacher is being left to do it, then it would be nice and supportive of the parents to help if they could. Unfortunately, if no parents help, the one who loses out is the teacher.

bigbluebus · 17/08/2012 17:04

OP, you used the words "little school". How 'little' is it exactly? Sounds to me as if the teacher is being very resourceful. Around here all the 'little' schools have been closed as they are no longer considered viable!!!! If it is a small community school, then it is only right that the comunity should pull together to do all it can to keep the school running - otherwise your DC may find themselves travelling much further afield to a larger school to receive their education.

JumpingThroughHoops · 17/08/2012 17:04

Oddly, where I work, the ex-6th formers all come back to paint the halls. Must be some weird reunion thing! We just let them get on with it. This year everything is psychotic purple

HildaOgden · 17/08/2012 17:06

I'd rather any necessary cutbacks were made amongst the cleaners rather than the teachers.

If that means the parents need to help out for a couple of hours spring-cleaning,so be it.

CanoeSlalom · 17/08/2012 17:38

Definitely not reasonable for the parents to be expected to do this. It's the council's job and there are surely other things to cut back on before the hygiene of a school.

Any parents who are mid to higher earners would be much better off time-wise making a small donation so that the school cleaner can be afforded.

JumpingThroughHoops · 17/08/2012 17:40

Someone will come and correct me - but schools get a budget to spend as they see fit. If they are cutting a minimum wage cleaners hours, there is something seriously wrong with the budget spending.

It isn't the council who send in cleaners.

TheCrackFox · 17/08/2012 17:43

No way would I come into the school and do the cleaning. No way.

Scholes34 · 17/08/2012 17:45

First the schools, then the hospitals . . . - we could be doing ourselves a favour here.

CanoeSlalom · 17/08/2012 17:50

What will the school do if the parents refuse to come in and do the cleaning?

Perhaps those who made this decision would like to come and help clean the parent's houses as well!

Snog · 17/08/2012 17:52

I would rather donate money for professional cleaners than give up my time tbh

JumpingThroughHoops · 17/08/2012 17:56

Hang on a mo - coz I am decrepit - I remember when dinosaurs roamed the earth I worked in The City and we had cleaners. Then we had a recession, and the cleaners were cut back and we all got given packets of things like, telephone wet wipes, VDU polish cloths, and we had to clean out own work stations before we went home!gasp and we had to do our own shredding and filing and typing and and and weeps make our own coffee

maddening · 17/08/2012 18:02

I don't see the problem? Yes it's pants that cash is low but it's better than closing. I would do it of I was called upon.

we can't expect the council to pay when the money isn't there.

I would expect the council to be cutting elsewhere too though - eg council workers help clean council offices. And councils are known to be wasteful in the past so I would expect unnecessary expenses and extravagance cut first ( eg wining and dining officials, changing letter heading for the sake of it etc )
I wouldn't expect this to happen in a hospital as hygiene takes on a different meaning there.

annie987 · 17/08/2012 18:05

As I teacher I have spent 2 1/2 weeks of the six weeks holiday in school cleaning as have all the other teachers. This has always been the case. There is only ever money for general week to week cleaning, never for a big spring clean.
Blimey - I might draft the parents in to help next year!

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 17/08/2012 18:05

What about insurance in case of an accident - are the parents insured to do this type of work for the school.

I for one would not be showing up for this, and I speak as someone who was active on 3PTAs over the years, and who regularly cleans her own desk at work and makes the tea.

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