Media and curriculum analysis Advanced Health and Physical Education.

Issues discussed in presentation: Healthy and active lifestyles: Local media content in relation to this topic (community events, active participation in activities etc). Benefits that these activities can have on health problems. Can be found in Appendices A – I. Childhood obesity: Is a separate issue to healthy and active lifestyles. Implications of obesity to be discussed in relation to local media content. Can be found in Appendices J & K

-Local media article analysis (addressing key themes, concepts and values). -Personal reflection of articles -Victorian Essential Learning Standards HPE curriculum document (VCAA, 2008) will be analysed. -Personal reflection of HPE curriculum. -Media and curriculum content to be analysed together to reflect upon similarities and differences. Contents and order of Presentation

Part A: Local Media Articles.

Local media articles show community values including: The importance of HPE. Belief that HPE is vital in childhood health. HPE can help create active community members. Many articles actively promoting healthy lifestyles. (Appendices A-I) Several articles are linked to childhood obesity. (Articles J & K)

Has become a nationwide news topic. Has implications for public health. Has implications for the economy. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2009) found that $58 billion was spent in 2008 on health services due to nationwide obesity. Media has demonstrated the worries of the community on this issue. Media focuses more on the solution of healthy and active lifestyles, than on the problem of obesity. Childhood Obesity:

Healthy and active lifestyles: - Stakeholders are actively working to create positive change in childhood health. - Similar education and initiatives are being provided around the country to address this issue.

Examples of articles: Appendix G: Community group calling for better education of dietary habits to combat Type 2 diabetes. (issue) Appendix E: Local school creates an organic garden which the children plant and learn about healthier food options. (possible solution)

Personal reflection of media articles: I believe that: -Childhood obesity and healthy lifestyle issues are frequently commented upon in the media. -These articles show that the problem of obesity are seldom mentioned in articles relating to healthy lifestyles. -Education of risks and issues need to be included so that children and communities can be informed of the dangers of an obese lifestyle.

Reflection of local media (cont’d) -Obesity can decrease a child’s quality of life and learning capacity. - An example of this is in Appendix H, where better education of food choices in the form of student lunches are called for. - This also effects the teacher’s capacity to effectively teach as children do not have stable energy levels. -Appendix G aligns with this viewpoint of healthy eating amongst children to prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Part B: Curriculum analysis and reflection.

Victorian Essential Learning Standards Health and Physical Education Curriculum document (VCAA, 2008). Works towards: -Children creating a healthy and active lifestyle -Engaging children in physical activity. -Children understanding why HPE is beneficial. -Department of Health and ageing (DHA, 2004) agree, noting: -Children aged 5-12 benefit from physical activity by: -Helping maintain a healthy weight, -Improved self-esteem -Developing physical skills -Promoting body growth.

Benefits of active learning in Health and Physical Education. -Develop skills in personal learning, interpersonal development and civics and citizenship (VCAA, 2008). -Development of understanding implications of food choices. - Resistant to a range of diseases. -Some of these diseases are outlined by the DHA (2008): “such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancers, osteoarthritis, kidney and gall bladder disease, and respiratory and musculoskeletal problems” -Also resistant to mental and self esteem issues.

Reflection of curriculum: HPE curriculum covers most areas in relation to providing a quality health and well-being education. (VCAA, 2008) Happy to find movement and physical activity is taught in classrooms from prep. This helps children to learn to control their body movements and develop physical skills.

Reflection of curriculum (cont’d): I feel disappointment that health knowledge and promotion is only taught from level 3 (grade 3 and 4) because: Children may already have developed unhealthy habits by this time. My own nephew is following a similar path of inadequate education. This is a contradiction of the curriculum’s (VCAA, 2008) belief that food choices are an important aspect of the curriculum.

Reflection of curriculum (cont’d): Evidence that children and families are not being properly educated on healthy dietary food choices is demonstrated below: The Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Preventative Health National Research Flagship and the University of South Australia (2007), found that children are not eating foods which help them achieve a healthy daily dietary intake, yet eat more than in the past.

Reflection of curriculum (cont’d): -Obesity is not mentioned in the curriculum, yet is an important issue as is demonstrated by Hesketh, Waters, Green, Salmon and Williams (2005), who found that obesity prevention is a key objective to promote a healthy diet and lifestyle. -I also believe that food education needs to be consistent in all aspects of the community to be of value to the child and the curriculum (Hesketh et al., 2005). -This would help to avoid sending children “contradictory messages” (Hesketh et al., 2005).

Reflection of curriculum (cont’d): The curriculum needs teaching standards relating to obesity education. This could include implications of health and figures of obesity in different cultures including indigenous populations.

Part C: Comparison of media content and curriculum.

Media and curriculum analysis: Media content shows community values in favour of improving participation of outdoor activities and healthy lifestyles. Curriculum content agrees, placing importance on student participation in sporting groups.

Media and curriculum analysis: Most of the media articles fail to address the health implications which exist with obesity. Children need to be able to make informed decisions relating to obesity and health education. The curriculum needs to provide full disclosure to students by including obesity education.

Media and curriculum analysis: Appendix H calls for improved education regarding childhood dietary habits. This is justified since the curriculum does not commence health knowledge and promotion until level 3 (grade 3 and 4) (VCAA, 2008). The Better Health Channel is further justification, noting that an improved diet education can improve individual health. This shows that the curriculum actually undervalues health knowledge and promotion. (VCAA, 2008)

Reflection of analysis: Healthy and active lifestyles need to be promoted in schools. This promotion is not enough for children to become informed citizens. Children need to learn that being healthy and active is a role in addressing the issue of obesity.

Conclusion: Analysis shows that the local community and curriculum both want to create healthy and active children. While children benefit from this work, these groups and failing to educate children of the dangers of obesity. Failure to educate children about dietary choices in early primary years could be creating unhealthy children. These two curriculum oversights mean that children are not being provided the tools to combat obesity.