Jan. 5, 2017
New Werklund School course creates capacity for future teachers to champion health
Plans for improving the health of students often begin and end with recommendations for the removal of junk food from school vending machines, and more physical education.聽 But聽Shelly Russell Mayhew聽says well-being is much more than simply cutting out snacks and being active, which is why the聽聽at the 草莓污视频导航 has introduced a one-of-its-kind Comprehensive School Health (CSH) course for pre-service teachers.
Beginning in 2018, all students pursuing a聽聽degree will be required to take the course as part of the core curriculum 鈥 a first for Canadian teacher training programs.
鈥淗ealthy students make better learners, and all teachers are positioned to influence the health, wellness and development of their students regardless of subject specialty,鈥 says Russell Mayhew, an associate professor in the Werklund School. 鈥淪chool wellness is not solely the responsibility of the health or physical education teacher; however, most BEd students in Canada are not provided with any wellness education in their program.鈥
Framework considers multiple dimensions of wellness and how they relate
鈥淐SH is not just about eating well and moving around. Equally, or perhaps more importantly, and certainly relatedly, it is a positive social environment,鈥 explains Russell Mayhew.
For this reason, she says the course, which was crafted in collaboration with the聽Faculty of Kinesiology听补苍诲听, takes a holistic approach by focusing on the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, and occupational dimensions of wellness.
鈥淔or example, research tells us that teachers and principals experience considerable uncertainty about how to respond to the mental well-being concerns of students. Our program addresses this challenge.鈥
During the course, students will apply evidence-based health knowledge to teaching practice and school culture; read evidence-based reports and engage in experiential and practical activities during a block week of focused learning, followed by five weeks of ongoing classwork; and engage in self-reflection about values, attitudes and knowledge related to personal health and wellness.
鈥淭his course provides the theoretical foundations, research base, community resources, and experiential learning to create the capacity for future teachers to be health champions,鈥 says Russell Mayhew.
Experts provided input on relevance, content and school wellness
To ensure the course is relevant to K-12 schools, the core committee met with CSH experts from post-secondary institutions, government, school jurisdiction partners, school health organizations, and the聽聽to gain their input on course content as well as critical aspects of school wellness.
The origins of the class go back to 2009 when faculty members provided a three-hour in-class professional development opportunity to 18 Werklund School physical education students.聽 From this, the program grew into a two-day health conference that saw more than 150 students sign up for optional learning outside of class time, and then it was incorporated into the BEd program.