Helping your community is something that lifts everyone’s spirits. It makes you feel good, it makes the people you help feel good, and it even makes the people watching you feel good. So when a school adds in the bonus of getting PE credit for doing something that’s already a “win-win” for everyone, I guess we can call that ‘extra credit’.
Students earn PE credits for helping the elderly with yard work. Credit: Alternative Learning Center / People
A school in Iowa is making headlines for a curriculum that allows students to receive physical education credits by helping do yardwork for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Tim Hitzler, who teaches at the Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, told a local NBC station last week that students who choose to help can do a number of chores to earn credits in their final two weeks of school. “Could be raking leaves, pulling weeds, cutting grass, cleaning gutters, just depends on what they need,” Hitzler said.
Students earn PE credits for helping the elderly with yard work. Credit: Alternative Learning Center / People
The school reportedly teaches high school students who are struggling to complete their education and are at risk of dropping out.
“The students aren’t typically too excited at the beginning but once they get involved and start doing the yard work they become more motivated,” Hitzler continued.
He added: “What they really like is a, helping people. They really like giving back to people and meeting the person.”
Students earn PE credits for helping elderly with yard work. Credit: Alternative Learning Center / People
Students earn PE credits for helping elderly with yard work. Credit: Alternative Learning Center / People