Iowa school gives students P.E. credits for helping the elderly and disabled with yard work

Instead of playing basketball or running laps, students at the Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, Iowa, spent the last two weeks of school earning their P.E. credits in a different way.

At the end of the year, the school lets students pick from a variety of activities for P.E. credits, and one option is to volunteer to do yard work for an elderly or disabled person. "The students and I come out and help them," teacher Tim Hitzler told KWWL. "Could be raking leaves, pulling weeds, cutting grass, cleaning gutters, just depends on what they need."

Hitzler said this arrangement strengthens the community and teaches students the importance of volunteering. "What they really like is helping people," Hitzler said. "They really like giving back to people and meeting the person."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up