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 education-driven 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? 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? 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. 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) 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. HECAT health topic modules are currently available: - Alcohol and Other Drugs - Healthy Eating - Mental and Emotional Health - Personal Health and Wellness - Physical Activity - Safety - Sexual Health - Tobacco - Violence Prevention

Models Used in Health Education 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/school-health-education.html