Students Receive PE Credit For Doing Yard Work for Seniors and Disabled Persons

Most traditional high schools require some form of physical education class or credit whether it is through a P.E class that does a variety of sports and exercises or if a student is enrolled in some form of sport or after school activity.

Students at the Alternative Learning Center in Dubuque, however, are encouraged to fulfill their P.E. requirements by helping out those in the community.

Juniors and Seniors at the Alternative Learning Center are able to do yard work and help out seniors or other disabled members of the community that can’t do the work themselves.

The program was launched by teacher Tim Hitzler who supervises the volunteer students’ yard work. Tim told KWWL, "The students and I and other students come out and help them. Could be raking leaves, pulling weeds, cutting grass, cleaning gutters, just depends on what they need. 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,” he added. “What they really like is … helping people. They really like giving back to people and meeting the person.”

Not only is this a great way to still get a form of physical exercise and outdoors time, but it is also giving back to those in need in the community.

The Alternative Learning Center is specifically geared towards students who are at risk of dropping out of traditional high schools and this program has definitely helped these students with Hitzler stating, “[it] had a noticeable impact on the teens as well as the homeowners.