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 (27) (Please sign in to comment)
Richard S. Russell said, 6 months ago
The 5 greatest bargains in America:
(1) sunshine
(2) fresh air
(3) clean water
(4) public libraries
(5) public schools
vwdualnomand said, 6 months ago
thanks to budget cuts, public libraries have reduced hours, reduced staff, reduced the number of new releases, reduced and/or eliminated book discussions, reduced/eliminated literacy programs. we may have started a path where this generation will be less educated than the previous generation, all because it costs too much.
Leo Autodidact said, 6 months ago
@vwdualnomand
It’s NOT because Education ‘costs too much’ but because all the OTHER STUFF costs too much!
How’s about just doing what the Constitutions (Federal AND State) require and see how much money that ‘frees up’?
Ted Borgerding said, 6 months ago
@Leo Autodidact
yeah, but I don’t think libraries will be on the list of requirements. And once we set “only what we gotta” as the budget principle, don’t expect much investment in the other things (roads, schools, courts) either.
Varnes said, 6 months ago
Find out which of your favorite books your library doesn’t have and buy them. Then donate them to the library. You’d be surprised how good it makes you feel….It’s a gift that lasts a very long time….
Tacopielvr said, 6 months ago
@Leo Autodidact
Yea, thats pretty stupid. Sounds like another ignorant Tea Bagger statement.
prrdh said, 6 months ago
No comments yet on the mystery of a kid that age with books?
Or on the “education experts” in public schools saying that as long as a kid has an iPad, he don’t need no stinkin’ library.
twypsi said, 6 months ago
Here in Ypsilanti, Michigan we’ve a library that continues to grow. 85% of families in the township have a library card. Great collection of books plus thru cooperative lending with other libraries we have a great facility. Love the library!
defunctdoormat said, 6 months ago
Yep! Let’s free up the entire military budget and fire all of them! That would free up Trillions!! Constitution certainly doesn’t require a military.
As for libraries, my local one is closed most of the time. It’s never opened after work for me and it’s not open on the weekends. I can see how that could be seen as a great value, but to me, it’s useless.
Schools a value? 70% of my property tax is for the schools, and my property tax is insane. I’ve never used any of the schools here either. AND if I decide to have kids and give them a REAL education, I have to pay for it twice! That’s value?
Oh, what the heck lemme go through the rest of the list from RRR. Sunshine cost my mom her life Melanoma. Fresh air and water? Where? It doesn’t exist any more. If you want it, you pay for it. Every single lake in my state has mercury poisoning. Even the well water is questionable in many areas.
The world is out to kill us as invaders. There are no values.
bpullin said, 6 months ago
Gee, defunct, sounds like you just need to eat your gun and get it over with.
bpullin said, 6 months ago
Public schools are nothing more than liberal indoctrination camps. They are more concerned about teaching the kids about Johnny’s two dads or Mary’s two moms than they are about teaching them how to read, write and think. They spew nonsense with the result that kids are complete morons when they come out of school.
Most teachers are not qualified to teach. They are not able to pass their basic efficiency tests. They lie on test results so it looks like they are doing their jobs.
All of this is by design. It is impossible to dominate and control an educated society. If the students aren’t taught about the Constitution and other important civic matters, then it is easier to take away their rights. Ask any one who has recently graduated if they have ever read the Constitution, Bill of Rights or any other important document while in school. Ask them how many branches of government there are, and what they are supposed to do.
I know of an educator who, until recently, thought that Canada was part of the United States, and that you couldn’t drive there from here. This is someone who is “qualified” to teach. We have a president who thought that there are 57 states, and never learned how to handle a budget or balance a check book.
Education needs to be wrestled away from the feds. It is not their responsibility. That belongs to the local communities.
But hey, as long as everyone gets a star for participating, and are promoted to the next grade just to keep their self-esteem from taking a hit, don’t complain when the cashier can’t count out the correct change.
Jeff0811 said, 6 months ago
@Varnes
Excellent idea. I like that you are one of the few that propose something constructive rather than complain about “the other side”. Thank you
USAFMSGT said, 6 months ago
@bpullin
My wife taught in the Birmingham, Alabama school system. She would fail a couple of her students expecting them to be in the same grade the next year. Over the summer the principle changed the grades so the kids were promoted to the 5th grade. The blacks college graduates in Alabama weren’t required to take the teachers exam to teach because it was deemed ‘racist’ by their attorneys. Public education run by the liberals is working just great for our future generations. Joe McCarthy was right.
wroady said, 6 months ago
DAMN you people have it rough! If my country was that bad I think I would just quietly step in front of a semi!
ncalifgirl58 said, 6 months ago
@twypsi
I love the library too! And encourage you in light of all the budget cuts to join your local Friends of the Library. It is a great way to spend your time and help the library.