It's common knowledge that Japanese people remove their shoes before entering a home in order to protect the bamboo floor mats, or tatami, from soil and wear. What is less commonly known is that they follow the same custom when entering certain public buildings, even though such buildings may have no tatami flooring. When entering a public school, everyone -- students, teachers, employees and visitors -- take off their shoes just inside the entrance and put on slippers or special indoor shoes, regardless of status or authority. In this way, taking off shoes acts as an "equalizer." Japanese public schools do not employ janitors. The Japanese education system believes that requiring students to clean the school themselves teaches respect and responsibility.