CHANDLER: Child labor not such a bad idea

My candidate Newt Gingrich was dealt a severe blow in the Sunshine State last Tuesday.

Sorry I wasn’t there to help him out.

Unfortunately, I am not an eligible voter in Florida. Or in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina.

Mr. Gingrich is the man for me. I’ll tell you why.

On a recent flight from Houston to Washington, he sat behind my youngest grandson (in economy class yet), chucked him under the chin and said, “Cute baby!” Will, a most charming little fellow, responded with a big grin, prompting Callista to say, “He’s precious!”
What’s a grandmother to do? I ask you.

That’s enough, but it’s not the only reason I’m in his corner.

Mr. Gingrich has been the object of some ridicule for his proposal to put school children to work. Suggesting that ten boys could be chosen from each school for “light” janitorial work (for pay) has gotten him in hot water.

I’m all for child labor, thank you. However, he didn’t go far enough. What is light janitorial work as opposed to heavy? One involves dusting and the other entails a mop? Our young ones are capable of both.

Why only ten — and why only boys?

Let’s look into this from a perspective of the past. My grandfather Chandler went to work herding goats at the age of eight. He received $4 and four kid goats a month. Most every family has a similar story.

The point — children of all ages adapt to their environment. No, I didn’t walk to school barefoot in the snow, but my sister and I grew up doing “light” janitorial work at the ranch and our psyches received no permanent harm. What’s more — Gingrich would approve — we and the other students in our one- room school cleaned our classroom.

When my daughter taught English in Japan, she and her fellow expatriate teachers were surprised when, at the end of the day, the students grabbed their pails and cleaning supplies and went to work like little beavers. It’s the norm in Japanese schools at all levels, where custodial work is done entirely by students. They also take turns serving lunch.

“Soji” is the name of the system, loosely translated, and it’s supposed to promote community spirit, school pride, cleanliness, responsibility, a strong work ethic and self-esteem.

I’m afraid to think of the consequences of asking our tots to roll up their sleeves and apply some “elbow grease.” First off, they don’t know what that means and secondly, they would have to put down their games and cell phones.

Or not. I think most children would fall in and do the job. (Maybe goat-herding is somewhat extreme nowadays, but same principle.) I’ve observed that kids are usually quite eager for adult approval, especially if their peers are involved. It works in Japan and Americans are obviously taken with other Japanese innovations.

It would be a culture shock at first, but the elementary student that has to clean the grounds would be more likely to place his plastic water bottle in a trash can. The adolescent who has to scrub the bathrooms would be less likely to write graffiti on the walls.

 Now you know why I’d vote for Mr. Gingrich. Heck, I’d even vote for him twice. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s occurred, if we are to believe the history of Texas politics.