Teacher Wellness essay
There are many teacher wellness programs exist. The profession of a teacher has a huge social implication and that is why it is so important to maintain their mental, physical and emotional health. Because of stress and other reasons related to health, many teachers leave this profession. This paper explores one published article that report on resultsof the TeachWell worksite wellness program.Resnicow et al. (1998) in the article “Results of the TeachWell worksite wellness program”examined whether providing a school-based teacher wellness program makes an influenceon thelevel of health of teachersor improves cognitive, behavioral, and physiological condition (Resnicow et al., 1998).
In Resnicow et al. (1998) article reviewing study based on two different groups. Thirty-two elementary schools were randomly dividedinto experimental and comparison groups. Comparison group schools received the Gimme-5 program, a curriculum designed to increase fourth and fifth graders’ consumption of fruits and vegetables. Experimental group schools received Gimme-5 and the teacher wellness program. Teacher wellness program included 54 workshops over 2 years and several schoolwide health activities. At the end of this experiment, physiological, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes were assessed in teachers and students (Resnicow et al., 1998).
Scientists suggested that teachers who place greater value on health promotion and practice more healthenhancing behaviors may be effective student role models. They are also more likely to implement different health care programs for their students. As we can see, it is important to take care of heath condition of teachers in order to increase health condition of students. The TeachWell studied not just an impact of certain well program on teachers.It also showed the impact of this program on students as well.
Results fromthe Gimme-5 indicated significantfavorable changes in fruit intake, fruit andvegetable knowledge, and fruit preferencesamong intervention participants. Intervention group schools received the Gimme-5 curriculum and the teacherwellness program. TeachWellwas based onthe Johnson and Johnson Live for Lifeprogram. It includes different promotionalprinted materials about health importanceand interactive health workshops. In the first year of the experiment, teachers were offered 36 healthworkshops (about 1 per week). It covered such topics as weight loss, blood pressurecontrol and stress management.Data collection was completed only by 74% of teachers, who participated.
TheTeachWell intervention did not appreciably affect any of the student orteacher. The reasons are the following: inadequate statistical power, inadequate implementation of theGimme-5 curriculum, inadequate participation in the teacher wellness program, absence of selective or differential attrition etc. Inadequate teacherparticipation in the wellness program, among all other reasons, can be explained by that fact that teachers were required to have their wellness activities after their workday. Some private companies allowemployees to attend wellness activities duringthe workday or have flex-time options,which are often not possible in the schoolsetting. The TeachWell was also insufficient because not only teachers, who volunteered, participatedin the wellness program. Some of the participants were obliged to do that. The effectiveness was low due to the lack of motivation.
Despite the low efficiency of the TeachWell, no one can deny that those teacher wellness programs are very effective and have a huge impact on educational system. It positively affects productivity and efficiency of teacher’s work and helps to create a positive role model for a student.It is important to remember that the strength and education of the next generation depends on teachers. The society needs to cherish all representatives of this profession and make them healthy by developing diversified teacher wellness programs. In order to gain a complete understanding of the nature of wellness programs, it is necessary to conduct a study that examines all methods of such programs.
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