Within 10 minutes it’s obvious to anyone who meets me that
I’m incredibly passionate about the field of school health. I started my career
as a middle school teacher in schools that had students living in poverty. As
the pressure to raise test scores, increase attendance and time-on-task grew, I
began to ask questions. I was expected to raise test scores when Charles’ home
didn’t have heat on the night prior? Or Lexi just found out that she’s
pregnant? Or Tom didn’t know who’s couch he was going to sleep on that night?
When our students are coming to school with basic survival needs not being met,
how as educators are we supposed to push time-on-task?
What can we do with our education system and school
communities to create healthy safe places for our students and staff? Schools
should at least be consistent in their approach to health and safety. It
doesn’t work when we keep telling students in health class that physical
activity is important, yet they only have it once a week. Or, how important it
is to talk about your feelings yet there are hardly any more social workers,
school counselors and school psychologists in schools with an acceptable case
load. We are changing our food systems in schools, slowly. But, there are still
cookie-dough fundraisers and non nutrient-rich food options at staff meetings.
Hallways are still unsafe places for students due to bullying. C’mon people!
Let’s send consistent messages to all students and staff. Let’s send this
message, “While on school campus, we value your safety and health. Our
programs, policies and practices will all be consistent.” Is it that difficult?
I love meeting principals who are taking the lead and doing this work. Leaders from
all over the country. But, they aren’t always supported. It needs to change at
the top. Our US Department of Education needs to support what CDC; Division of
Adolescent and School Health did for years; fund and support school health work
in states. I mean, even ASCD created and supports the Whole Child approach.
Arne Duncan, I challenge you to begin changing the system. Begin encouraging
schools to build community relationships, set healthy policies, consider health
and physical education core, save teachers from leaving the profession by
providing support to them.
Luckily, I’m an idealist. I truly believe this change can
happen in my lifetime. And I may get down sometimes about the work… but being
an idealist, I always recover. Attending annual conferences and meetings always
helps to re-energize and invigorate me. Today, I arrived in Myrtle Beach for
the American School Health Association Conference, my favorite annual
conference. I like it because of the size, smaller compared to other
mega-conferences and the participants are amazing colleagues from all over the
country, many whom I know well and adore. Other than the weather being yucky
today, I’m excited to be here and present 3 presentations as well as attend
workshops for professional development myself. And, most importantly network
and build more meaningful relationships within the field. So less kids feel
unsafe at school. And less kids are hungry. And less schools cut health and PE.
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