EDUC4704

To try and address the first questions from the Article 5: School health promotion programs over the past decade: a review of the smoking, alcohol and solar protection literature. I feel it necessary to explain how I will attempt to do that.  

The traditional answering of  questions follows as one, two and three, I will try and write a few paragraphs that address all three of the questions.

I feel that the Health Promotion approach and the effect I will have on my teaching is this: In order to really get any benefit  out of something that is as delicate as teaching health, it really does need to have holistic point of view. Where everyone within the school community are involved in the transmittion of knowledge that is healthy choices. This transmittion of knowledge does not and should not fall solely at the feet of teachers. We play a massive role in trying to shape and mould the future students of tommorrow by introducing them to the concepts of healthy choices, for example healthy eating, drinking, appropriate clothing for different situations, behaviours that you can rely on in trying times etc. However that it does need reinforcement from the wider community out side of the school too. This includes society as a whole, doctors, add campains on T.V and posters (Media), friends and family, for example: Aunties and Uncles, brothers and sisters etc. However the bulk of this reinfocement should come from home and the parents.!! I know, I know contentious, but in my mind it is true.

Children need to be environments that modelling  good, healthy practices are a way of life. Or if the children sees a parent who smokes, the smoker goes out side and away from the family to do it. And or hold frank discussions  with them about the dangers associated with smoking, getting drunk all the time etc, with their children, which is hard as it becomes one of those situations of “Do as I SAY, Not as I DO!!”, however it is better than nothing!!

So I hear someone barking at me from the back row “What if that is not the case at home, where none of that talking and modelling you were talking about takes place??, you dick!!”

To this I say that I am no expert and I don’t know the answer, however I also see that as individual human beings, we are all equipped with the function of “CHOICE”!! And this function inables use to choose what is ultimately right for us.

I am sure there is research out there that states, that you can teach and teach and teach the healthy ways until the cows come home, but unless it is backed up at home and wider community, the chances of it really having any effect on the later life of the student is questionable. There are always exceptions, I know! But that is were we as teachers come into the equation.

If we are honest with parents and try and keep them in the loop, with news letters etc, of what is going on in the classroom and what you are doing at times. Explaining that you intend to do a unit on healthy chocies etc and that you will be talking about smoking and how bad it is for you etc. That there are support groups out there in the community that can help with addiction etc, and you can point them in the right direction if they want etc. Or that you are doing healthy eating and that you want to see that lunch boxes have some fruit in them etc, or what ever you are doing, I think that you are covering your self and people are more likely to first of all want to help, or at least try and get involved some how. Be that at home or what ever. Also it would be great to get the whole back up of the school community, great modelling from everyone, healthy chocies in the tuck shop etc and bring in guest speakers to warn of the realities of bad health and what it can do to you is another way getting everyone involved, I mean everyone!! But like the article says “it needs to  be a conscious effort and everyone should be involved to back it up!!”

The impact on my teaching is that most schools have policies on that sort of thing and I will follow what ever that is. I will were my hat out side and model good behaviour where ever I can, maybe drawing attention to it as I am doing it.

I think that the article highlights that there needs to be greater study of this approch, so we can see it it really is if it is having any effect. It seems like common sense to me but, I get the feeling from watching T.V at night and seeing teenages binge drinking and smoking to dangerous levels, that something is falling down. Something is being lost in the translation some where. I would like to pose this question: Is that all part of growing up in society today? That expermenting nature and young curiosity that is part and parcel of being a young adult . Or just flat out rebelling against everything? What ever it is it is not good enough, and I have a sneaking suspicion, that if you ask students if know what healthy choices are and if they know the dangers associated with them?? They could nearly recite word of word what they are, and the kinds of behaviours and skills you need to be able to say “No” and guard against peer pressure,etc!

So we just have to keep trying and never give up the students, and so long as you can go to bed at night and say that “I have done my best today and that I didnt give up”, then I think we are on the right way to making a difference!!        

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