WHAT? CHILDREN'S HEALTH HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ACADEMIC SUCCESS? YOU'RE KIDDING!
From Public Education Network Weekly NewsBlast
http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_current.asp
From The connection between good student health and academic success is no news for teachers, who see its critical importance everyday in their classrooms, or to researchers who have studied it. Self-reported physical health problems are associated with school failure, mostly because health problems contribute to school absenteeism, trouble with homework, and student-teacher bonding, writes educational psychologist Gerald Coles in a blog entry on the District Administration website. Asthmatic children in the United States miss approximately 14 million days of school, but the rate of school absenteeism is twice as high among poor and minority asthmatic children living in urban areas. Health insurance makes a difference! A California study showed that after obtaining health care, children who had been in poor health improved their school attendance, attention in class, and the extent to which they kept up with school activities. Of course these changes contributed to improved academic performance. A University of Missouri study found that children who enrolled in the state's health insurance program had 39 percent school absences. Uninsured children with asthma miss more school days. Right now educators can make a difference in taking one important step to help poor children's health and education.
Go to the Campaign for Health Care at http://www.childrenshealthcampaign.org.
There you'll be able to sign a petition to Congress and the president that calls for health coverage for all children. You'll also find information on how to call your senators and urge them to support the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) and how to recruit family and friends in this effort. Both the House and Senate bills would provide additional funds to provide health insurance for millions of poor children. Given the grim realities of current domestic policy, both bills and the final compromise bill will be a critical victory for many poor children.
http://www.districtadministration.com/pulse/commentpost.aspx?news=no&postid=48079
MPHA urgs your support of H. 4199, legislation to promote healthy nutrition in schools. Approved by the Public Health Committee in late July, the bill is currently being considered by the Health Care Financing Committee. In August, we published letters in support of the bill in the MetroWest Daily News, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, and the Springfield Republican. We've also collected hundreds of "got lunch?" postcards to legislators, written to members of the Health Care Financing Committee, begun organizing in-district meetings with state senators and representatives, and begun calling our more than 70 organizational endorsers to encourage them to take action. Please email your legislators , fill out an endorsement form , and download a fact sheet . For more information, contact Terry Mason at MPHA: 617-524-6696, ext. 103; tmason@mphaweb.org
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