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By JACQUELINE
PERRY, Ishpeming Bureau
ISHPEMING - Being a
kind-hearted person is worth more than a test
score in Paul Steinke's fifth grade social
studies class.
The C.L. Phelps students recently finished a
month-long project in which they each had to
complete 30 good deeds in 30 days. The
activities had to be above and beyond what
they're already expected to do, Steinke said.
Each student also kept a log of the deeds they
accomplished, which had to be signed by a parent
and turned in to Steinke.
"The grade for this project is equal to three
exam scores, so it's extremely important that
the students put forth the effort for this
project," he said. "They can't just go home and
do their usual chores and get credit for them.
The deeds have to be things that they don't
normally do."
Steinke said it's important that his students
realize "when you give, you receive." Kindness
has also played a vital role in American
history, he said.
"We just finished studying about the Pilgrims
and how they had to pull together in order to
survive," Steinke said. "Giving to others and
looking out for one another is the thing that's
made America strong. Look how our country pulled
together during 9-11."
Steinke, who implemented the good deed project
into his classroom more than a decade ago, has
many memories of his students making a
difference in another's life because of the
project. His current student, 11-year-old
Brittany Ferrett, recently did something to add
to Steinke's list of memories.
"Brittany and I attend the same church where she
volunteered to help serve the Thanksgiving
meal," Steinke said. "When she finally got the
chance to eat, Brittany had just sat down when a
lady in a wheelchair came in to eat. Brittany
immediately gave up her seat to the lady. That
was a great moment."
The 11-year-old didn't think much about it at
the time, she said.
"I saw the lady come in and I knew she needed
somewhere to sit, so I just got up. It wasn't
something I had to think about doing," Ferrett
said. "But I felt good knowing the lady
appreciated what I did."
William Billing completed his 30 good deeds in
no time at all, but continued doing more.
"I've shoveled at local businesses and helped
decorate for Christmas at different businesses,
I've passed out Christmas cards at nursing
homes, rang the Salvation Army bell...," said
Billing, 10, naming just a few of the many good
deeds he performed.
Billing said he's learned a valuable lesson from
the good deeds project.
"Helping others makes you a better person," he
said. "Everyone should take the time to do
something nice for someone else, not because
they have to, but because they want to."
This article
was taken from the online version of the
Monday, December 20,
2004 Mining Journal.
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