TULSA, Okla. -- It's the new normal for the Tulsa School of Arts abd Sciences.
For 20 minutes after school each day, seventh graders take on the role of janitors.
"They learn that manual labor is a good thing, that working with your hands to take care of something is good. Number two would be that they become more involved members of our community because they've had a hand in taking care of it," middle school principal Dan Hahn said.
The students rotate between tasks, some of which get mixed reactions.
"Sometimes it can be nasty in there, and sometimes it can't be. I honestly think the people wiping down the counters and mirrors are lucky because then there are people that have to wipe down the seats and pick up the trash off the nasty floor," James Alexander said.
Even in one week, staff on campus are noticing an impact.
"The kids have said that it's cut down on the number of gross things that have happened in the bathroom, people just leaving messes or not cleaning up after themselves. And we've gotten positive feedback from parents and the community about it being a good message and a good life lesson," Hahn said.
Students tell 2 Works for You they enjoy working as a team.
"I think it's been getting easier and kids whenever they first do it I think they don't want to but then after they do it they're like, this isn't so bad," Marijane Thornton said.
The principal said this has nothing to do with funding, and these students are simply helping the other three full-time janitors on campus.
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