Frazz by Jef Mallett follows the adventures of an unexpected role model: an elementary-school janitor who's also a Renaissance man. While he's sweeping the hall, he's whistling Beethoven. Or Lyle Lovett. He paints the woodwork in the classrooms; he paints a Da Vinci on the cafeteria wall. He's a trusted authority figure who is every kid's buddy. He took the janitor's job while he was a struggling songwriter, and when he finally sold a hit song, he decided to stay on at school. Frazz appears in 200 newspapers worldwide, including the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune and Detroit News. "A few years back, I wrote and illustrated a children's book," says Mallett. "When I was traveling around reading it at school assemblies, I noticed that often, the most respected, best-liked grown-up in the building was the janitor. And I thought, 'Hmm, there's a comic strip in that.'" Often praised for its intelligent wit, gentle spirit and effortless diversity, Frazz won a Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council in 2003 and 2005 for excellence in communicating values and ethics.
© Jef Mallett - All Rights Reserved.
Frank & Ernest by Thaves
Fred Basset by Alex Graham
Comments (29) (Please sign in to comment)
Nabuquduriuzhur said, 6 months ago
The average in the U.S. is 20 per classroom. That’s down from about 30 when I was in school. And yet the quality of teaching is extremely poor compared to then.
Richard S. Russell said, 6 months ago
@Nabuquduriuzhur
Using perfectly objective, widely agreed upon, and universally measured standards of “quality”, no doubt.
vwdualnomand said, 6 months ago
teachers should be given more than a pat on their backs. not to used as a political prop. and, not to be used as the reason of the local deficit.
brickster said, 6 months ago
35 students in one classroom, 5 next door. That makes an average class size of 20!
Need to look at the median class size
Varnes said, 6 months ago
Most of the classes I sub for have at least 30 students…
sonorhC said, 6 months ago
In my mom’s years in the public schools, I don’t think she ever once had a class that was under 30.
Marko56 said, 6 months ago
As I remember it, the STUDENTS were much easier to handle due to then standards of child rearing and discipline. The teachers didn’t have to deal with the effects of poor parenting to the degree they do currently. That, combined with the unrealistic expectations and requirements placed on the educational professionals, has caused the current poor state of education in the U.S., and it’s not going to get any better.
blather046047 said, 6 months ago
At one in a million, there are still over 300 people in this country just like him.
Sketcherdude said, 6 months ago
Gotta admit, as much as I like this strip it can SOMETIMES be pretty obscure….but when you hit one out of the park, it clears the fences, the parking lot, the county line……
oh, yeah…and I also agree with every post listed to date, so a four fingered cartoon five to everyone
bpullin said, 6 months ago
When you have teachers who cannot pass their basic proficiency exams, and they cannot be fired because of their Union, this is what you get.
lightenup
said, 6 months ago
@Marko56
I agree!! I am doing my best to raise kids who are respectful, work hard and enjoy learning. They love school, get top grades, and all of their teachers tell me that they are a pleasure to have in the classroom. It’s not hard, just a lot of work, which many don’t want to do.
USAFMSGT said, 6 months ago
@bpullin
In Alabama the proficiency exam was at the 8th grade level and a certain group was not required to take it because it was deemed racist by that groups lawyers.
comicsssfan said, 6 months ago
In the public middle schools sports take over. The teachers can’t emphasize academics or it will take away from valuable sports. Sure, sports have their place. But it shouldn’t be the entire focus of the school. It shouldn’t be the area where all the money is drained into with no accountability. Everyone seems to not have a complaint about it because they are sports crazed themselves and watch sports on tv. Many people in this country are anti-intellectual and consider books and learning to be the devil. Well, anyway that’s how it is here in Michigan. Probably something to do with the car industry here giving people a false sense of security.
Redkaycei Repoc said, 6 months ago
@bpullin
You talk like they walk into their first classroom and automatically have tenure. They can and are often removed early if they can’t pass their basic proficiency exams. Teachers are expected to continue their own education while they are teaching, if not they seriously hurt their chances to become tenured. The unions have nothing to say about this. Both my parents were teachers, my father in particular hated the teachers union because they didn’t do much of anything (except take their dues) to help the teachers in his district.
ealeseth said, 6 months ago
@bpullin
If they didn’t pass the basic exam, they would not have been hired. If they were not hired, they would not have completed their probationary period. Our union doesn’t not prevent firing unsatisfactory teachers. The union does provide due process when teachers are accused by a parent or child who is angry about a low grade earned by the child’s lack of work. Large class size (35+ or “only” 30 if non-English speakers).