I see I left some details out earlier. My bag stays locked up in my supply closet all day but was on my desk because I was leaving then got an email about a district committee I belong to having to cancel our meeting tomorrow. I was reading and forwarding the email to my principal when he came in and swept. The trash can is a large barrel type on wheels like used in the cafeteria. I teach elementary art, so we go through a lot of old newspapers each day covering the tables as we complete messy projects. The trash can was not positioned next to my desk, but rather in a corner about 15 feet from my desk. The custodian wheeled it out of the corner as he was sweeping and pushed it in front of the desk, then dumped the dustpan in it. Truth be told, I think he was trying to read the email from across the desk and that's why he pushed it over there.
The dustpan was not supposed to emptied inside the room. It dawned on me while driving home that I've never seen one of our custodians do this in 14 yrs and that's because it's against district policy. With all the computers and technological equipment in the classrooms, purchased with bond money that took 3 years to pass, we must keep as much dust away from them as possible. They're supposed to sweep the floors, push everything into the hall, shut the door and then use the dustpan. I've been wondering why my allergies have been out of control since school started and now I know. I've also been having more problems with my computer on my desk and although I cover it at night, it always seems so dusty. I've also noticed dirty handprints on the white desk when I come in each morning.
I hate tattling on anyone and that's part of the reason I started the thread to ask what you'd do, and also to vent. I've always had a really good rapport with the custodians in my building and usually keep special treats in my desk organizer for them such as lemonade mix for their water bottles or Snickers fun sized bars for them and stuff like that. (I try to keep on their good side after a very big, scary night custodian threatened me the first month I was teaching in another building after the principal told him it was his job to sweep my room not mine. She caught me getting the broom that morning.) I honestly haven't done this for this particular gentleman because he's mouthed off at me on several occasions about the trash can being full. Ummm we were painting in kindergarten and first grade. It takes a lot of newspapers to protect the tables from getting stained up. He even demanded I stop putting trash in my second trash can........WTH?
I've been so happy to have my floors swept more than once a week this year that I hadn't questioned until today why the room still felt dirty and why I've been coughing persistently somedays. In fact, it's gotten so bad a couple of days that the kids have asked me where my inhaler is in case they have to grab it for me. I agree that my outrage on behalf of my Carly would go right over his head, and thus, I'll keep it out of the matter, but I am going to have to talk to him about my health and equipment concerns now that I know where all the excess dirt is coming from. I'm certainly not looking forward to it. If nothing changes, I'll have to go to our head custodian who'll be very nice about it, I'm sure. Thanks for reading and letting me vent. I'm sorry I wrote a book.
I'm so mad I really want to say something to him now but am controlling myself even though I've already got a headache from breathing all that dirt. (I had 200 kids in an out of my room today, so yes, my tile was dirty.)
