Frazz by Jef Mallett for December 26, 2016

Actually, the broom takes you to where the action was.

The broom is the thing you lean on so you don’t fall over.

Having been a janitor in what seems another lifetime, I can understand the need to imbue magical powers to the tools of your trade. I can’t imagine working at a school, the fingerprints on glass doors would be enough to drive me up a wall.

Everyone teaches by experience and example;there is a certain nobility in being able to impart knowledge and wisdom no matter what your official title. Custodians and lunch attendants somehow overhear what teachers may never know and what kids would never share with someone with a ‘title’. Plus they teach useful life skills. I was 8 or 9 in 3rd grade when the elementary school custodian showed me how to use a drain snake [yuck, but once learned it was a life lesson] change a sink washer in a faucet, and how not to mix certain chemicals lest the chlorine bleach become a poisonous gas. In junior high they taught me how to splice and tape electrical wire and the value of measuring twice before cutting once.

My school custodian taught me that I didn’t want to be a school custodian.

The difference being that dowsing is complete fakery. Hopefully, Frazz teaches the kids to eschew superstition.

My boss could bend a couple of coat hangers and use them to find water mains buried 6 feet. I see no possible way it could work, but for some it does.

I have done dowsing as well as janitorial work. succeeded at both

Autobiographical? Wow. That’s troubling. And I think this is the worst “Frazz” strip I’ve ever seen, Frazz is so very very smug.

Of course, a “real” dowsing rod doesn’t tell you where to go. It just give you something to point in the direction your brain suggests.

I didn’t believe in it either, until my MIL was trying it. She let me and I was amazed that I felt that stick pull in my hand. Became a believer on the spot.

Lots of ways for the strip to be autobiographical without landing on your interpretation. Here is the quote from Mallet that I found insightful with respect to intent… “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.’”

You never know where and from who you will get your most valuable education.

Retract thy claws.

big puma, what are five things you liked about this comic over the years…..

My Granpa told me that if it hadn’t been for the wheelbarrow, the Irish would have never learned to walk on their hind legs,,,

rshive

Anyone with properly developed vision can find a leak in an open field. The whole dousing act works through a subconscious ability in geology.

Ah, good old sanctimonious Frazz. Despite his alleged wealth from his songwriting career, he has kept his job as a custodian to “keep himself humble.” Watch as he achieves such noble humility by continuously undercutting the teachers (except the cool ones who he’s friends with) and the administration. There needs to be an arc where he gets clobbered by a car who is rightfully driving on the highway that he claims is for runners and bicyclists only.

you risk coming off as a bit of a self-satisfied jerk._____Look in the mirror.

Please, Folks, don’t let the nasty, picky comments by BigPuma or his snide little disciple spoil this wonderful strip for any of you. Look to the comments by the erudite NightGaunt for a sane, soothing counter to Puma’s nasty drivel. You’ll,notice that Puma’s retorts to NightGaunt get continually lamer.

And Happy NY. Have a blast but please stay safe.

Notice I said “please”. MBig Puma would say it was a “command” and ask “who am I to issue it?” if I didn’t say please. Really. He once called a boss’s message to “Make it a great day!” was “imperious.” IMPERIOUS! You’ve gotta love this jerk!

Our custodians always had to work over break, so they could get stuff done without teachers and kids tracking all over it !

I recall seeing one custodian, never spoke to them, they didn’t speak to me or anyone else I can remember.

Night-Gaunt49

It was a class prejudice matter in the middle class schools (white only) in those days. Any contact was severely dealt with. Except for emergencies, the one on duty (for a 1300+ high school) stayed in the boiler room where no student was permitted. Routine maintenance was done after school. Thus we missed the non-curriculum part of our education that Frazz provides.