Preparing our Youth for Tough Economic Times

Note: This is a fictitious blurb written for Health Ed class
Helen Perdue
Albany Tribune
3-3-09


Preparing Our Youth for Tough Economic Times

It seems to be what everyone is talking about these days: the economic crisis. I read it in the news, I hear it over dinner, I get emails about it from my friends, and I even hear it from the personal trainers at the gym? What do they say? Most of them share stories. Some are about how they are loosing their jobs, but most are about how they are handling the stress. Stress about what? For the most part, it is stress about the unknown, about what we fear might happen, and about what we cannot control.

Well, one thing we can control is how we influence our youth in handling this period of ‘economic stress’ that is permeating every aspect of our culture. Our schools play a role, and so do we. While a certain degree of stress can increase student learning, higher degrees of stress can prevent students from learning altogether (3). Teachers, school support staff, and parents can play an important role in making sure students do not fall trap to the negative ‘stress factor’ by supporting the proposed Coordinated School Health Program for Albany Unified School District.

What is the Coordinated School Health Program and how can it help students succeed in school? The Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) consists of 8 components including: 1) Health Education 2) Physical Education 3) Health Services 4) Nutrition Services 5) Counseling and Psychological Services 6) Healthy School Environment 7) Health Promotion for Staff 8) Family/Community Involvement. If the proposed initiative is passed, students will have access to resources and support that will help prevent and treat student stress. While the initiative targets the health component of education, its implementation and success will have a critical influence on students’ academic achievement as well.

Studies show that school-related stress is the most prevalent, untreated cause of academic failure in our schools. It is believed to afflict 6 to 10 million children a year. Stress levels tend to increase over time, and can result in problems far surpassing academics, including emotional distress and disorders. (1)

Experts agree that effective stress management requires a "whole child" approach which addresses the child's attitude, behavior, skills and circumstances (1, 2). The Coordinated School Health Program would do just that. An integrated approach to supporting youth in our schools will also take the load off teachers and parents alone. They, too, will benefit from the program.

While we may not be able to solve the problems of the economy, we do have the opportunity to join forces to reduce our own stress level in our community. Everyone of us knows why the housing prices are so high in this town: It is because the schools are so great.

Keep up the good work, Albany. Support the Coordinated School Health Program so we can be right by one of the biggest investments we have made!


Sources:

1) Rubenzer, Ronald L. Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Handicapped and Gifted Children. Reston VA. ED295396, 1988.

2) Elkind, D. The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon. Reading, MA. Addison Wesley, 1981.

3) Yerkes, Robert M., and J. D. Dodson. "The Relation of Strength of Stimulus to Rapidity of Habit-Formation." JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE AND NEUROLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY 18 (1908).