Education and Health

This morning I read that the new UK primary school curriculum will include a strong focus on health and wellbeing--to address "deep societal concerns about children's health, diet and physical activity, as well as their relationships with family and friends."  This is good news, as the UK is also struggling with obesity.   Preventive efforts need to begin early to prevent later chronic conditions, and perhaps the US might consider a stronger health and wellness curriculum in primary schools.

The other interesting thing in the new curriculum is that students will also be taught to use social media--including blogging, podcasts, and Twitter.  I am sure this will spark some controversy, but children already have access to these things, so maybe framing them as serious tools that can help in information gathering and dissemination--rather than distractions--could be a positive move for modern education.