Why Your Students Need Health Education

• Important Stats and Facts about Your Students Health

As a teacher, you want the best for your students. Subjects like math, science, english and history are important to their future success in college or the work force. That's why these subjects are a part of the core curriculum in Massachusetts public schools - it guarantees that all students will graduate with the knowledge they need.

There's an important - even life-saving - subject that is not a requirement for students. Comprehensive health education is not a part of the core curriculum in Massachusetts public schools. It includes such topics as: nutrition, physical activity, mental health, safety and injury prevention, reproduction and sexuality, substance abuse and violence prevention. The Department of Education includes health education in its Curriculum Frameworks, but because it's not required, there are inequities in how it is taught from district to district and even from school to school.

Students of all ages need health education. 45% of children ages six to 11 are overweight or obese.1 According to the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 11% of high school students had experienced violence in a dating relationship, and 22% had been bullied in the previous year.2 Students with health problems, or who are worried about violence in their relationships, aren't able to focus all their energies on their school work. By helping students improve their health, prevent disease and reduce risk-behaviors that impact academic achievement,3 health education programs have been proven to help students increase their GPA, reduce repeated grades, and reduce absenteeism.4

Schools today already have a lot on their plates. It's hard to make room for subjects that aren't part of the core curriculum, no matter how important they are for students to learn. By making comprehensive health education a requirement in all public schools, school districts will get the support they need so that young people get equal access to information that will keep them healthy and safe. Advocating for comprehensive health education in schools is just one of the ways that you can give your students their best chance at success.