Take pride in your school

I trained for a couple of years at our system's main school in Orlando. It is a big facility with open pavilions and a tile floor in the main training area. About once a quarter, one of the big Saturday events is cleaning day. The school is cleaned top to bottom, all the equipment is cleared off the floors and spray hoses and mops are used to scrub the concrete and tile. This is an effort in which all the instructors participate, from head instructor to the most junior, and some students who volunteer to help out. And one will also see si gung among the crowd, with his shoes off and trousers rolled up just like everyone else.

Which is why it's galling to see some students or instructors lounging around on the benches while the sifu cleans our school.

Students don't always know that the volunteerism is appreciated. That's where instructors should be setting the example. Students aren't usually asked to help clean because they pay full tuition and I guess sifus are uncomfortable requiring them to donate extra time to a mundane activity. But the instructors are receiving extra training, often at no extra cost. Plus there's a leadership element that they have been entrusted with. Plus they're representing their school. If you're proud of your school you won't let trash sit around or avoid cleaning the floor.

Maybe the excuse is, "Well there are already three people cleaning right now, so I don't want to get in the way." Fine, but it always seems to be the same people cleaning and the same people lounging.

If you're a student but you see cleaning needs to be done, ask the sifu if you can help. He may say that he or someone else will take care of it, but believe me, sifus appreciate that you asked. If you're an instructor, you already know what you need to do. I hope nobody thinks they're too good for cleaning. I hope I'm completely wrong in my observations.