Week 12 Post 3
It was interesting to learn about former President Kennedy's response to a small fraction of the population doing poorly on fitness tests. Kennedy recognized the early signs of declining health among the youth, and immediately took effective action. His plan was highly successful. There are slim to no effective policy changes to help the upcoming generation survive and resist chronic illness. The efforts to involve the White House served as a rallying cry to the rest of the nation encouraging the value and joy found in exercise. "The Great Diseases" course sounded like something that myself and my peers would be greatly interested. Not only would it be more enriching than the current Future Ready program, but it would leave the student body with skills that they could apply and changes that they could make; as well as, the reasons to make those changes. DMPS is far from this level of progressive health literacy programs but as we start to model new curriculum at the middle school health level, this will be something to consider for the generation with basic health prerequisites).
How much would it cost to apply the Great Diseases Curriculum? Who would teach it? How can we involve scientists and medical professionals in the community? This would apply excellently to the WSCC Model. Have their been any other progressive attempts to better health that gained any community traction since Kennedy's Fitness Plan?
Do you think the Great Diseases Curriculum could be adapted to fir all grade levels?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think this stopped being a push after Kennedy?
Well, Kennedy's family was very healthy and fit. All presidents have different ideas with what should be done with the budget and apparently for the next generation of presidents, childhood health did not make the list. I think that, yes, every year that students spend in PE and Health should be building up to those comprehensive health courses like the Great Disease Curriculum. Following the SHAPE National Standards, students should leave to be health literature adults and make informed health decisions throughout their whole lives about prevention, chronic illness, and beyond.
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