Students and staffers at Alexandra Hills State School in Queensland, Australia are welcoming a few additions, thanks to a Lizard Lounge.
Students and staffers at Alexandra Hills State School in Queensland, Australia are welcoming a few additions, thanks to a Lizard Lounge. Maximus is the name of one new face at the school. He’s a 15-year-old freshwater turtle.
Maximus won’t exactly have it easy, as he has a job of sorts at the facility. His goal is to calm kids with behavioral problems down. The children will help take care of the turtle and interact with him.
Wayne Fletcher, the Principal of Alexandra Hills State School claimed he was presented with the idea for the Lizard Lounge about 6 months ago, as an unconventional and non-aggressive way to address the issue of behavioral and social problems among students.
Fletcher detailed the goal of the program stating the children will “have to learn about the reptile they’re looking after and accept responsibility for caring for the reptile”. Aside from Maximus, the Lizard Lounge is also home to blue-tongued lizards, bearded dragons and skinks.
It seems as though everything is off to a good start. According to Fletcher, one child who is known to have some behavioral issues at home, came into school and took right to the reptiles.
The boy later said his session in the Lizard Lounge was the best time he ever had at school.
