Teachers' conference of the Healthy Eating Network

"Schoolchildren are not worse than they used to be - just different" - teacher conference "School and Quality of Life" on the road to success

At the end of March 2003, the first specialist conference for teachers of the "Network for Healthy Nutrition" took place in Bonn. The extraordinary response encouraged the partners of the "Network for Healthy Nutrition" to continue this series. "We will be offering this symposium in several federal states in the coming years," said Dr. Margret Büning-Fesel, managing director of the aid infodienst in Bonn. In addition to aid, the network also includes the Association for Independent Health Advice eV (UGB) and the NRW consumer center. The second symposium "School and Quality of Life" took place on March 20.3.2004, XNUMX at the University of Hohenheim near Stuttgart. This time, too, the event was fully booked.

Prof. Dr. Helmut Heseker, University of Paderborn, opened the lecture program with an analysis of the current situation. "Nutritional education leads a shadowy existence in our schools", says Prof. Heseker. Although nutrition-related problems are increasing in children and adolescents, the subject is often taught in an unrelated and inadequate manner. Above all, the practical side is neglected: Which school is currently investing in kitchens and cooking? Accordingly, an enormous loss of competence can be observed among the students, the handling of food is reduced to the purchase of snacks.

"Teachers are hyperactive", is one of the many provocative theses of Dr. Heinz Klippert, Educational Research Institute, Landau. Klippert didn't allow any excuses: "Students today aren't any worse than they used to be, they're just different." New learning and training methods must be used to react to these changes. The previous teacher-centered teaching is out. Rather, the class must be taught to self-manage - and also, over long stretches, to self-educate. Here Thomas Männle, UGB Giessen, intervened. Stress and anger is a daily occurrence for most teachers. Keep cool or with Mr. Männle: "You can get angry all day, but you're not obliged to." A systematic analysis of stressful situations can help: Which ones can I avoid, which ones can I mitigate through better organization. Active stress management, healthy nutrition and exercise increase personal well-being and make you more resistant to stress - a positive cycle.

At the Market of Opportunities, organizations from Baden-Württemberg and nationwide presented projects for health promotion in schools and teaching materials. In the afternoon, too, the workshops were about the well-being of students and teachers. In practical exercises and discussions, the participants were able to get a taste of many projects.

The positive feedback showed that the "Healthy Nutrition Network" is filling a gap here. "There are already many good projects for a health-promoting school, we just have to make them known and use them," says Dr. Margret Büning-Fesel. Cooperation with regional organizations facilitates tailoring to country-specific circumstances. The Ministry for Food and Rural Areas in Baden-Württemberg - Minister Willi Stächele also held the patronage - as local partners, the consumer advice center Ba-Wü. and the Baden-Württemberg section of the German Nutrition Society.

The next conference "School and Quality of Life" will take place on September 18, 2004 at the Humboldt University in Berlin.

For more information:

• www.erlebniskiste.de
• www.vz-nrw.de
• www.aid.de
• www.ugb.de
• www.dge.de
• www. Verbraucherzentrale-bawue.de
• www.infodienst.bwl.de

Source: Bonn [aid]