Economic misfortune requires hard choices. We all know that. We all want what’s best for the scholars and residents of our communities, but in times like these which will be hard to define.

How can we find further savings in budgets that have already felt like “bare-bones” for several years? How will we give our kids the education they deserve after we find little financial ability to sustain programs that are now considered “enrichment”?

Healthy Lincoln County is one in every of 27 area people coalitions across the state working to strengthen communities by helping to form better public health environments and by supporting people of all ages in making healthier lifestyle choices. we might prefer to weigh in on the importance of maintaining health education as perhaps the only greatest thanks to ensuring not only the immediate well-being of our kids but to confirm the long-run well-being of our communities.

Why should we care about health education? Health education teaches about physical, mental, emotional, and social health. It motivates students to boost and maintain their health, prevent disease and reduce risky behaviors. Effective curricula lead to positive changes in behavior that lower student risks around: alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, injury prevention, mental and emotional health, nutrition, physical activity, prevention of diseases and sexuality, and family life.

Health education promotes learning in other subjects. Studies have shown that the reading and math countless students who received comprehensive health education were significantly beyond people who didn’t. In general, healthy students learn better. they need higher attendance, have better grades and perform better on tests. Without basic health literacy, societies are at an enormous disadvantage both economically and culturally. it’s going to look like a stretch to check Maine communities to those in poorer or developing countries where knowledge about health and healthcare isn’t as widespread as within the U.S., but ask yourself, where did you study health and the way to be healthy?

Most people who are now adults learned about the flesh, health, and disease, good condition, and nutrition not just from our parents, but in class. Where will Maine communities be in 5 years, 10, or 20 years if we don’t make sure that our kids study their own health and understand a way to preserve it? The financial and social toll of disease and addiction will still erode our society if we don’t prioritize health education at the core of our most simple skills-teaching in class.

Finally, let’s ask ourselves this question: If we don’t provide health education in schools, what are our kids visiting learn from the overall culture around them?

They are surrounded by a culture that’s creating a deadly disease of childhood obesity, of youngsters abusing drugs at younger and younger ages, which advertises tobacco products specifically to appeal to them. If we don’t count those cultural messages with information and support for creating good choices, then we jeopardize both children and their parents who are attempting to boost kids who are going to be healthy, productive members of society. Yes, economic adversity requires hard choices, and schools are faced with lots of them. But let’s not create more problems down the road for all people by cutting health education to save lots of us something within the short term.