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Title: Newt Gingrich Thinks School Children Should Work as Janitors
Source:
theatlantic.com/business/
URL Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/business ... hould-work-as-janitors/248837/
Published: Nov 21, 2011
Author: Jordan Weissmann
Post Date: 2011-11-27 18:37:09 by GreyLmist
Keywords: Dickensian, Newt Gingrich, child labor laws
Views: 316
Comments: 30
The GOP presidential candidate wants nine-year-olds to work as janitors. It's not merely a crazy plan (although it's plenty crazy). It's also evidence of a deep disrespect for and ignorance of American work. ______ Last Friday, during an event at Harvard, Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich offered up a modest plan for alleviating poverty in the United States. It was time, he said, to relax our "truly stupid" child labor laws. In particular, schools should fire their unionized janitors, and hire children as young as nine to do the work instead. Per The New York Times: This suggestion is, on its face, insane. It sounds like a bad Stephen Colbert joke. But if you stop and consider its merits for a minute or two...well no, it's still quite insane. And if you spend an evening researching the nitty gritty of what public school custodians actually do for a living, it turns out to be downright cruel. It's not really worth engaging Gingrich's idea as a serious policy suggestion. I just don't see the buckets-and-books plan getting much traction in Congress. But his comments are worth dwelling on for a moment, because they're a jarring illustration of Gingrich's casual disdain for American workers. My assumption is that Gingrich disagrees with the critics who quickly called his plan "Dickensian." Instead, he probably believes that janitorial work is a relatively safe, mindless occupation on par a paper route or neighborhood car wash. Otherwise, there's no reason to think a child could handle it. So what do janitors actually do? It's a lot more than mopping. To get a sense, look over this job description for a New York City public school custodial engineer--a "master janitor," as Gingrich would put it. He and his team of cleaners and handymen are responsible for cleaning, yes. That part involves hazardous chemicals like hydrochloric acid. They also operate the school's heating system, do electrical repairs, maintain the school grounds, take care of the HVAC equipment, and handle basic plumbing fixes, among other assorted jobs. I ask: What parent wants a nine-year-old, or even a thirteen-year-old, toying with the HVAC in her school? None. Because this is hard. It's adult work. It can also be brutal on your health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, janitors miss work due to on-the-job injuries more often than almost any other occupation. They rank in the top seven on that statistic, along police officers and construction workers. Janitors get splashed with corrosive chemicals. They injure their backs bending over mops and toilets all day. These aren't concerns you take lightly. It would be easy to chalk Gingrich's comments up simply to his well-known animus towards unions. But I don't think that quite explains it. Rational people can argue about how much someone should be paid to clean. An average school janitor makes $12.45 an hour. It's not an extravagant amount, but it approaches a living wage for a single person living in some areas. In some places, the unionized janitors may well be making too much. There are plenty of school districts that outsource their cleaning to private firms. But that decision starts from the respectful assumption that maintaining a school is something worthwhile for an adult to spend their lives on. That's not the case in Gingrich's worldview. Forget that an adult might need that job to put food on the table for their own children. Forget that he's suggesting we flood an ailing job market with part time, minimum-wage-earning students. This isn't about labor economics. It's about respect, and the fact that the leading Republican presidential candidate doesn't have a spit's worth of it for manual labor. In his eyes, a janitor's job just doesn't mean much. It's so easy, a child could do it. "You say to somebody, you shouldn't go to work before you're what, 14, 16 years of age, fine," Mr. Gingrich said. "You're totally poor. You're in a school that is failing with a teacher that is failing. I've tried for years to have a very simple model. Most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor and pay local students to take care of the school. The kids would actually do work, they would have cash, they would have pride in the schools, they'd begin the process of rising."
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#1. To: GreyLmist (#0)
Enough for me. Custodians do Not do electrical or HVAC work. Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson Gingrich appears to be the "R" de jour. If this repackaged slob resells himself to the American mushroom caps, I think I might go into the pet rock business.
look at the want adds for apartment maintenance workers most specify HVAC plus some other qualification such as electrician or plumber or both. Exactly. My maintenance guy is not a janitor: he does electrical, plumbing, drywall and painting, and some light HVAC stuff. Newt the douche bump (On the other hand, having the mush-heads clean up their own mess/garbage, is a great idea...you made the mess - you clean it up.) Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. newt is politician because he has no ability to learn a meaningful skill. I now rue the disparaging reference of honorable douche bags being in the likes of newt.
Custodians do Not do electrical or HVAC work. I could be wrong but have read that although Janitors and Custodians both do cleaning, the Custodian title might include some maintenance duties, minor or otherwise, in addition to cleaning -- even if it's just changing light bulbs and heater filters occasionally. Still, this from the article is concerning to me: I didn't mind cleaning the blackboard with water and a sponge when I was in school but if schools can't afford janitors who are adult U.S. citizens to clean the restrooms, floors, windows, etc., that's another good reason, imo, to transition to online schools and homeschooling. What with their class schedules and homework after school, students are already near or beyond a 40-hour workload for a week and they get paid nothing as it is for the work they do towards achieving skills that can benefit our society -- or for generating every teaching job, maintenance job, transportaion and cafeteria job, union business, and more within the school system. Edited for spelling. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. You can polish a turd forever and the best you will ever have from all your labor is a shiny turd. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. Albert Einstein "...if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
Right again, my friend. Basic duties may include swapping readily accessible (those that don't require a scissor lift) light bulbs and fluorescent tubes and perhaps replacing wall switches. They may also change filters in HVAC air handlers and plunge and perhaps run a hand snake through a clogged toilet. They don't pull squirrel cages or replace fan motors or bearings, and they certainly don't change gas or oil valves or burner assemblies. And any electrical troubleshooting beyond a tripped breaker that resets without tripping again would require a qualified union electrician to respond. The hospitals here even hire electricians but they don't do anything but show the outside contractor electrician where the problem seems to be. You can bet that the unions in New York don't allow a custodian to do any work beyond what a home owner would do before calling qualified mechanics and techs for service problems. And, another thing. When I was about 10 yrs old I lived across the street from the first integrated school in Norfolk, and I used to go over at night and sit with the "negro janitor", and I sometimes went with him as he attended to the notes left for him. (e.g., melted roofing tar on the gym floor that leaked down in hot summer weather) He let me try working a mop and a bucket with wringer, and I busted my ass trying to work that heavy wet mop and wringing it in the bucket. Is Newt proposing that scaled down mops be made for 9 yr olds? Are we to return to the era when high speed looms and weaving machines were built low enough or had steps to accommodate child labor? (and no guards over dangerous moving parts) Can you imagine a 14 yr old requiring surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after 5 years of arduous, repetitive labor?
Newt and his Contract had his chance and TOTALLY screwed the pooch on us. Newt will not do in '12. Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson deleted
The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. I don't think janitors should have to be unionized. I do think students who'd like to work for their schools part-time, if they can keep up with their studies, should have opportunities within reason to do that and could do that without threatening the wider job market if the dysfunctional financial system was replaced with an alternative currency system based on time investment certificates -- which could possibly be applied towards purchases at participating business, towards future expenses at participating colleges and trade schools, and so on. I also think Americans could save a significant amount of .gov budget money if all the officeholders in D.C. did their own janitorial work. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
I've got no problem with that so long as they change the name from "school" to "concentration camp." I suppose I might settle for "prison-indoctrination complex." I suppose I might settle for "prison-indoctrination complex." I call them Commie Kid Camps. Edited for spelling. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
Newt needs to be neutered!
Seriously, does anyone here believe that is the truth? We all know what is involved in cleaning a room or a house. Why aren't we all disabled and getting worker's comp? Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson They could, they could also teach and make their food in the cafeteria. No sense in stopping at the janitor position, get rid of the teachers, the food workers, and the principal. I bet that would save a heck of a lot more than just doing away with the janitors. While were at it, lets get rid of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Executive branch. Then get rid of the Federal Reserve, all police departments, the FBI, the CIA, the IRS and the HSD. That would save so much money that America would actually be the land of opportunity again. God is always good!
And of course a liar! He says whatever he thinks will get his sorry ass votes, he has no intention on keeping any promise he makes, he doesn't even keep track of them. God is always good!
I'm not trying to post baseless info and flimsy concerns. I don't know what the statistics actually are for janitorial work-injury compensation claims and missed workdays due to pulled muscles, slips, falls, or whatever as compared to other occupations but I would think it's higher than say office work generally. Maybe the author's notation about it in the article is of more concern to me with regard to children because I have a scar on my forehead from simply running into the house as a youngster and not realizing that the floor had just been mopped and waxed. Maybe I'm just fretting needlessly but at this point I still suspect that janitorial injuries on the job would probably be higher for minors than adults.
------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
Yes, it would save lots of money. Homeschooling online is also more economical and a better alternative, I think, than no teaching staff at all. Of course, no Commie staffers should be hired or funded at all with our taxdollars. I'm not an anarchist but they should definitely all be staffed with loyalists to the Constitution only. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
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The relationship between morality and liberty is a directly proportional one. None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. Newt will not do in '12. He really is a dented can, isn't he?
Gingrich probably has so little interest in schools that he doesn't appreciate all the things that the janitors do. It's a lot more than sweeping floors and mopping up spills. It includes getting on high ladders, even getting on the roof, handling dangerous chemicals and power tools. Here's what we can expect if Newt has his way: Elementary schools would become shabby almost immediately because there's a definite limit to what 7-10 years old can be expected to do in the way of maintenance and repair work. Junior High slightly better. High school maybe a bit better than that, but probably also some serious injuries and fatalities, followed by really ugly lawsuits.
Works for me. "We had oral sex. He prefers that modus operandi because then he can say, 'I never slept with her.'" - Anne Manning (who was also married at the time.) "We would have won in 1974 if we could have kept him out of the office, screwing her [a young volunteer] on the desk." - Dot Crews, his campaign scheduler at the time [In the book] "Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them", [I] "found frightening pieces that related to my own life." - Newt. "I think you can write a psychological profile of me that says I found a way to immerse my insecurities in a cause large enough to justify whatever I wanted it to" - Newt, speaking to Gail Sheehy. "She isn't young enough or pretty enough to be the President's wife." - Newt, on his first wife. "I don't want him to be president and I don't think he should be." - Newt's wife Marianne. "If the country today were to move to the left, Newt would sense it before it started happening and lead the way." - Dot Crews, his campaign scheduler throughout the 1970s.
Gingrich has excused his sexual athletics on the grounds that it somehow demonstrates his deep sense of patriotism and public duty. Odd thing is, of course, he wouldn't allow Bill Clinton to be equally patriotic. But, of course, someone who can try to turn this sort of vice into a virtue worthy of praise is seriously out-of-touch and not to be trusted with absolute power.
I hate all them hures.
What a man. I am sure "He's a great American" to some. They also operate the school's heating system, do electrical repairs, maintain the school grounds, take care of the HVAC equipment, and handle basic plumbing fixes, among other assorted jobs.
#2. To: GreyLmist, 4 (#0)
#3. To: Lod (#1)
(Edited)
still doesn't take away from newt being a CFR douche bag.
the most factual thing ever posted by buckeroo
I have no freaking' clue. buckeroo posted on 2010-07-24 21:33:00 ET
#4. To: IRTorqued (#3)
#5. To: GreyLmist (#0)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#6. To: IRTorqued (#3)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#7. To: Eric Stratton, Lod (#6)
the most factual thing ever posted by buckeroo
I have no freaking' clue. buckeroo posted on 2010-07-24 21:33:00 ET
#8. To: Lod (#1)
(Edited)
Enough for me.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, janitors miss work due to on-the-job injuries more often than almost any other occupation. They rank in the top seven on that statistic, along police officers and construction workers.
#9. To: IRTorqued (#7)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#10. To: Eric Stratton (#6)
Some things you can run through the washer repeatedly but the stench and stain never comes out.
#11. To: Lod (#1)
Custodians do Not do electrical or HVAC work.
#12. To: HOUNDDAWG, 4 (#11)
#13. To: James Deffenbach (#10)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#14. To: All (#0)
Most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor and pay local students to take care of the school. The kids would actually do work, they would have cash, they would have pride in the schools, they'd begin the process of rising."
#15. To: GreyLmist (#0)
Newt Gingrich Thinks School Children Should Work as Janitors
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936 2011)
#16. To: Esso (#15)
(Edited)
change the name from "school" to "concentration camp."
#17. To: GreyLmist (#0)
#18. To: GreyLmist, 4 (#8)
They rank in the top seven on that statistic, along police officers and construction workers.
#19. To: GreyLmist (#0)
In his eyes, a janitor's job just doesn't mean much. It's so easy, a child could do it.
#20. To: Eric Stratton (#5)
Gingrich is a moron, an adulterer, and an asshole!
#21. To: Lod (#18)
#22. To: RickyJ (#19)
they could also teach and make their food in the cafeteria. No sense in stopping at the janitor position, get rid of the teachers, the food workers, and the principal. I bet that would save a heck of a lot more than just doing away with the janitors.
While were at it, lets get rid of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Executive branch.
#23. To: RickyJ (#20)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
#24. To: Lod (#12)
Newt and his Contract had his chance and TOTALLY screwed the pooch on us.
#25. To: GreyLmist (#0)
#26. To: Eric Stratton (#5)
Gingrich is a moron, an adulterer, and an asshole!
"Satan / Cheney in "08" 
#27. To: tom007 (#26)
#28. To: randge (#27)
#29. To: Shoonra (#28)
#30. To: randge (#27)
"We had oral sex. He prefers that modus operandi because then he can say, 'I never slept with her.'" - Anne Manning (who was also married at the time.)
"Satan / Cheney in "08"
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