Clean It: Grab a Paintbrush and Gain Pride in Your School

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School isn't just a meeting of minds -- it's a meeting place for minds. And no one feels much like learning in a building that's covered in graffiti or peeling paint. A school with a run-down physical environment can take a toll both on student performance and teacher retention, according to the Council of Educational Facility Planners International [1].

So why not join forces with your school community and, as 1,500 staff, students, and parents in Kern County, California, did this March, hold a "Great American School Cleanup"? A little scrub here or dab of color there (done schoolwide once each fall and spring) goes a long way, both in maintaining safety and getting students to take personal pride in the place where they spend so much of their day.

Sara Bernard is a former staff writer and multimedia producer for Edutopia.