Download Is Health Education Important in Schools?

Is Health Education Important in
Schools?
By Michelle Klochack
What is Health
Education?
• Health education is a social science that
draws from the biological,
environmental, psychological, physical
and medical sciences to promote health
and prevent disease, disability and
premature death through educationdriven voluntary behavior change
activities.
• Health education is the development of
individual, group, institutional,
community and systemic strategies to
improve health knowledge, attitudes,
skills and behavior.
• The purpose of health education is to
positively influence the health behavior
of individuals and communities as well
as the living and working conditions that
influence their health.
WHY IS HEALTH EDUCATION
IMPORTANT?
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Health education improves the health status of individuals, families, communities,
states, and the nation.
Health education enhances the quality of life for all people.
Health education reduces premature deaths.
By focusing on prevention, health education reduces the costs (both financial and
human) that individuals, employers, families, insurance companies, medical
facilities, communities, the state and the nation would spend on medical
treatment.
Health education builds student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes about health.
Health education teaches about physical, mental, emotional and social health.
It motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and
reduce risky behaviors.
Students learn skills they will use to make healthy choices throughout their
lifetime.
A Statement from the American Cancer Society, the American
Diabetes Association, and the
American Heart Association on Health Education
Quality health education programs delivered in the
nation’s schools can improve the well-being and health
of our children and youth. In the United States, chronic
diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and
mortality; however, engaging in healthy behaviors,
such as participating in physical activity, eating healthy,
and avoiding tobacco use, have been linked to
prevention of chronic disease. Research studies provide
evidence that promoting and establishing healthy
behaviors for younger people are more effective, and
often easier, than efforts to change unhealthy
behaviors already established in adult populations
(ncaahperd.org).
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) Healthy Youth initiative and the Carnegie
Council on Adolescent Development, schools can play a vital
role in establishing healthy behavior patterns among young
people that carry into adulthood. Every school day provides
54 million students in the United States the opportunity to
learn the importance of healthy lifestyles and skills
necessary to engage in healthy behaviors. Not only do
schools provide critical outlets to reach millions of children
and adolescents to promote lifelong healthy behaviors, they
also provide a place for students to engage in these
behaviors, such as eating healthy and participating in
physical activity. Health education programs in schools can
contribute directly to a student’s ability to successfully
adopt and practice behaviors that protect and promote
health and avoid or reduce health risk (ncaahperd.org).
Why Should We Care About School
Health Education?
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The health and well-being of our
nation’s young people is not a
matter of luck. It is not a chance or
random event. It must be a planned
outcome.
Improved health status is of
economic value to U.S. citizens.
It is easier and less costly to keep
our children healthy than to fix
preventable health problems later
in life.
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School health education programs
can reduce health risk behaviors
such as tobacco use, poor nutrition,
lack of physical activity, drug and
alcohol use, as well as actions that
increase stress, and risk of injury,
and violence.
Because these behaviors are
amenable to change, quality school
health education taught by trained
and certified health educators
provides the best opportunity to
promote positive health behavior
among children and adolescents.
Health Education
Curriculum Analysis
Tool (HECAT)
HECAT health topic modules are
currently available:
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Alcohol and Other Drugs
Healthy Eating
Mental and Emotional Health
Personal Health and Wellness
Physical Activity
Safety
Sexual Health
Tobacco
Violence Prevention
• The Health Education Curriculum Analysis
Tool (HECAT) can help school districts,
schools, and others conduct a clear,
complete, and consistent analysis of health
education curricula based on the National
Health Education Standards and CDC’s
Characteristics of Effective Health Education
Curricula. The HECAT results can help
schools select or develop appropriate and
effective health education curricula and
improve the delivery of health education.
The HECAT can be customized to meet local
community needs and conform to the
curriculum requirements of the state or
school district.
Models Used in Health Education
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Traditional Educational Models
Modern Educational Models
Planner Models
Empowerment Models
Health education models are a strategy for
change. They are a framework to give
educators direction.
Conclusion
School health education is vital to a child’s learning experience. A
comprehensive, quality school health education program should be
developed by utilizing The Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool and
Health Education Models for a strategy for change and a framework to
give educators direction.
Health education provides young people with the knowledge and skills they
need to become successful learners and healthy and productive adults.
Increasing the number of schools that provide health education on key
health problems facing young people is a critical health objective for
improving our nation’s health.
References
Coalition of National Health Education Organization (CNHEO), (2011). Retrieved from:
www.cnheo.org/pdf%20files/health_ed.pdf
Hagquist, C. & Starrin, B., (1997). Health Education in Schools – From Information to
Empowerment Models. Health Promotion International. 12 (3), Great Britain,
(1997).
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC), (2011).
Healthy Youth. Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/hecat/index/htm
New Hampshire Department of Education (2011). Why Healthy Education is
Important. Retrieved from:
www.education.nh.gov/instruction/school_health/health_coord_education.htm
North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
(NEAAHPERD), (2011). Health Education in Schools – The Importance of
Establishing Healthy Behaviors in our Nation’s Youth. Retrieved from:
www.ncaahperd.org/pdf/health/pdf
South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (SCCPPA), (2009). Why is
School Health Education so Important? Retrieved from: www.sccppa.org/schoolhealth-education.html