Janitor jobs: Gingrich vs Juan Williams

So, is janitorial work demeaning?  More so, say, than not working but accepting food stamps?

I wrote a while back about Newt Gingrich's comments that inner city kids might benefit by being allowed to do part time work around their schools, including janitorial work, so as to earn money (hard to do in many inner cities) and to learn, early, vital job skills.  Same subject came up, via pundit Juan Williams, in last night's presidential debate; here's the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm51_20GEoU&feature=player_embedded

While I didn't start in janitorial (lived in the suburbs, so mowing lawns was available - I began at 12 or 13), the basic point is well noted - the earlier one learns to support oneself, rather than assuming an entitlement, the more likely he is to continue throughout life.

And, sorry, I've never seen honest work as demeaning.  Particularly janitorial work.  We clean buildings to keep people safe and healthy.  Not an inconsequential task.

Comments

[Marla Hughes]

Very well put.
My first job was watering the family truck garden every afternoon after school. We each had specific chores to remind us we were valuable as individual parts of the whole.
Since Juan Williams is normally even handed I'm of the opinion that the question was one he had to ask for one reason or another. He just doesn't give me the impression he was cosseted while growing up. He sure looked stunned, though. Poor Juan. :-)

[Bob Croft]

Thanks! Look close on how Williams was driving with the question, and his assumptions, and it seems to me that he much deserved the slam. Did you catch the start of the subject - Gingrich's remarks a couple of months ago?

[Marla Hughes]

Yes, and Gingrich was right. It would be beneficial for school children doing some light janitorial work before or after school in that they would have money to take home that they earned, an important part of growing up as a responsible adult, in my opinion.
It would also benefit the local government in that 1)children working an after school job aren't making trouble elsewhere and 2)money saved could be used in other ways, determined by input from the local community.