Caring custodians set a teaching tone

I really like this story -- a delightful feature by education reporter Bill Croyle. It's about a bunch of custodians at Dixie Heights High School who just might have made Dixie Heights the cleanest school in Kentucky.

And they don't just care about things; they care about kids. That includes surpassing expectations. They not only shovel snow in front of the school, they help clean snow and ice from student cars to increase the odds the kids will get home safely.

But there's a bigger point here, too, contained in the last two paragraphs of Bill's story:

That diligence by the staff has actually made the kids take more pride in their school.

"I think the kids here respect the school a lot more because of them," senior Emma Adkins said. "They instill a sense of responsibility in students."

Unfortunately, that's not true at all schools. Even old schools needn't look worn inside and out. Sloppy surroundings affect the students. Appearances matter and so does caring for others.

Hats off to the Dixie custodians for being such good teachers.