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March 30, 2008
Former Surgeon General David Satcher's Prescription for Health and WellnessFocus on Education Lecture
Focus on Health and Wellness: An Imperative for School Leaders in the 21st Century
2:00-3:15 PM
Dr. David Satcher stressed the importance of school districts promoting health and wellness. Students and teachers that are in good health miss fewer days of school and perform better when they attend. Below is his prescription:
1. Participate in Physical Activity (at least five days a week for 30 minutes). Allow every child to develop lifelong habits of exercise. It’s not just for jocks!
2. Prevent Obesity. Avoid dense calories, sweets and fats. Eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables (five a day of varied colors). Drink low-fat milk.
3. Avoid tobacco use. Is your state smoke free in public places? If not, think about being a legislative advocate.
4. Don’t abuse substances: Children replicate what they see at home. What kind of example to you set?
5. Educate students about responsible sexual behavior. Approximately twenty-five percent of adolescents today have contracted sexually transmitted diseases. Satcher stressed abstinence education isn’t working: many students engage in sexual activity regardless of its inclusion or exclusion in their school curriculum. When students learn about sexual behavior in school, they aren’t necessarily more inclined to be sexually active. Studies show education about safe sexual behavior can effectively reduce high-risk behavior.
(For more information on Dr. David Satcher see a News Hour with Jim Lehrer http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june02/satcher_1-21.html)
Posted by Molly O'Holleran, Blog Team, at 6:42 PM | Educational Sessions & Workshops
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