https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/opioid-deaths-prompt-ohio-to-reimagine-classroom-lessons-starting-with-kindergarten/2018/04/20/30db0570-05df-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.36623578c290
I like this article because teaching young people about opioid crisis in an effective manner is essential. I remember taking human growth and development in 4th and 5th grade. Although it may not have been the best lectures, at least starting the discussion and being introduced to the topic made a big difference. Giving these elementary school children the opportunity to learn about what is going on in their community will prepare them to face the situation better.
I like how communities are taking initiatives to educate, however, it seems as though teaching this topic to middle schoolers may be a little more effective/appropriate than introducing it to elementary schoolers
ReplyDeleteI like their new way of going about it, and in communities like this this level of education is necessary. But I didn’t talk about drugs until middle school. I guess the community that you grow up in determines your interaction level with drugs and local/state governments should react accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that they are going about it the right way. I know we didn’t start talking about drugs until middle school, and many of the videos were laughed at, because of how over the top they went. Kindergarten may be a little early, but I think this is a step in the right direction
DeleteYou never know how much opioids are apart of a kid's life. Educating kids on how to deal with if someone close to them ODs or if they see a needle at the park or something could be beneficial. There is always going to be a debate on how early you should start this process. I don't think showing pictures of drug addicts to 5 year olds would be effective.
ReplyDeleteI agree. You hate to think about young kids having to be exposed to someone overdosing, but the reality is that many of them are. Educating them on how to react in that situation could lead to them saving one of their loved ones live's.
DeleteDifferent things could be instructed at different levels of education. Maybe early on in elementary school they learn how to use the emergency antidote pens, or emergency protocol when an incident happens. Then as they get older, middle school, more 'drug' specific discussions could occur.
DeleteI'm glad schools are putting in effort to educate the kid before addiction affects them/ their friends. Hopefully, more schools will see this and be able to dedicate some funding and time towards drug education.
ReplyDeleteIt is especially important if kids living in a community possessing addicts. My mom taught me since I was 5 (so the program will work). Although I didn't have much sense regarding addicts, I knew I should leave away from those dangers.
ReplyDeleteI think having these types of conversations with kids is beneficial, because its necessary for them to see all sides of the conversation on drugs. Having one singular image of drugs only makes them have one image of people who use drugs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the programs, I think its only roadblock with a wide implantation would be parents trying to "protect their children" from knowing about too much about drugs. Think about how some parents rect to sex education, vaccines, among other subjects normally taught in school. Yes parents should have a say in a child's education, but there should be a standard set of things that students have to learn, outside of academics, include: personal living and finance, drug/health/ sex ed.
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