Health Pedagogy and School Health Education Facing the Challenges of the Anthropocene
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to present the assumptions of health pedagogy as a theoretical basis for health education in the field of environmental health determinants and to overview the framework assumptions of the school health education program regarding environmental health.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The research problem is posed in the question: What are the theoretical foundations of educational practice in the field of environmental determinants of health, and to what extent do school education curriculum assumptions address issues related to health aspects of human functioning in the Anthropocene era. Document analysis were used.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The argumentation process includes introduction and three separate issues that concern: the health consequences of environmental changes, areas of health pedagogy research focused on issues related to the environmental determinants of health, and the framework assumptions of the Environmental Health curriculum section included in the Core Curriculum for the Health Education Subject.
RESEARCH RESULTS: The theoretical perspective of health pedagogy, which emphasizes the environmental determinants of health, provides a solid foundation for educational practice in the field of school health education. A comprehensive range of issues related to the health consequences of the Anthropocene, recommended for implementation within school health education, is included in the Core Curriculum for the Health Education Subject in the Environmental Health section.
CONCLUSINS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: It is recommended to introduce a mandatory implementation of the environmental health program at II and III stages of general education in Polish schools. The analyses conducted may constitute a foundation for further, more in-depth research within the field of health pedagogy, aimed at informing and supporting pedagogical practice in the area of environmental health.
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