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RESOLUTIONS APPROVED FOR THE YEAR 1972 By the Governing Council of the American School Health Association, San Diego, California, October, 1972 Resolution No. 1 - School Nurse Practitioner The American School Health Association has noted in resolutions in previous years the need for study and review of current utilization of health manpower in terms of function and preparation, and also the need for new and innovative approaches to provision of health services for children and youth in the school and in the community. In 1970, the Association recognized the shortage of school physicians as a primary factor in making it increasingly difficult to arrange school health examinations and to meet the health service problems of youth. In keeping with such resolutions adopted earlier, the ASHA recognizes the emerging role of the school nurse practitioner as being a school nurse with additional appropriate education to enable her to conduct health appraisals of children attending school, preferably in a child-nurse-parent health conference. Accordingly, the Association believes it is desirable for concerned school health leadership to plan jointly with local medical societies and institutions of nursing and medical education for the development of appropriate educational programs for qualified school nurses. Also, emphasis needs to be given to interpretation to boards of education of the value of the school nurse in this extended role and the need to provide assistance to the nurse with respect to non-professional tasks to enable her to implement properly her functions as a school nurse practitioner. Resolution No. 2 - Drug Use in Sports Recently there has been much reference made to the use of pharmaceutical substances as an aid to performance by professional athletes. It is well known that junior high school and senior high school athletes are inclined to emulate the professional. Unfortunately, drugs are available to such young athletes through a variety of channels. Also, many people are misinformed as to the physiological effects of various drug substances upon athletic The Journal of School Health performance. In addition, the exact effects of some remain to be demonstrated. Therefore, the American School Health Association condemns the use of substances such as hormones, stimulants, and narcotics for the purpose of enhancing performance in sports and further recommends that qualified personnel make a special effort to inform all coaches and athletes particularly those in junior and senior high schools of the unpredictable effects and potential hazards involved in the use of such substances. Resolution No. 3 - School Medical Appraisals It is important that schools have an adequate health evaluation of all pupils at, or soon after, their enrollment to plan their best educational program. However, some physical and emotional conditions may develop during their school years that would be benefitted by further testing and medical evaluation. The American School Health Association, therefore, strongly urges school health and educational leaders to give priority to obtaining an adequate medical appraisal at or near enrollment and thereafter when health manpower is in short supply. The American School Health Association also urges all state departments of education and state departments of health to encourage and promote private, clinic, or school physician medical evaluations on all pupils at or near enrollment and thereafter give priority to such appraisals when health problems or school situations arise that indicate that medical evaluation of a child is warranted. Periodic medical appraisals, at appropriate grade levels, can have value but are less significant than those made at entrance to school or done to meet an apparent need. Resolution No. 4 - Pre and In-Service Educational Programs for School Health Personnel The American School Health Association recognizes the need for specific attention to pre- service and in-service education programs for I33

RESOLUTIONS APPROVED FOR THE YEAR 1972

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Page 1: RESOLUTIONS APPROVED FOR THE YEAR 1972

RESOLUTIONS APPROVED FOR THE YEAR 1972

B y the Governing Council of the American School Health Association, San Diego, California, October, 1972

Resolution No . 1 - School Nurse Practitioner The American School Health Association has

noted in resolutions in previous years the need for study and review of current utilization of health manpower in terms of function and preparation, and also the need for new and innovative approaches to provision of health services for children and youth in the school and in the community.

In 1970, the Association recognized the shortage of school physicians as a primary factor in making it increasingly difficult to arrange school health examinations and to meet the health service problems of youth. In keeping with such resolutions adopted earlier, the ASHA recognizes the emerging role of the school nurse practitioner as being a school nurse with additional appropriate education to enable her to conduct health appraisals of children attending school, preferably in a child-nurse-parent health conference.

Accordingly, the Association believes it is desirable for concerned school health leadership to plan jointly with local medical societies and institutions of nursing and medical education for the development of appropriate educational programs for qualified school nurses. Also, emphasis needs to be given to interpretation to boards of education of the value of the school nurse in this extended role and the need to provide assistance to the nurse with respect to non-professional tasks to enable her to implement properly her functions as a school nurse practitioner.

Resolution No . 2 - Drug Use in Sports Recently there has been much reference made to

the use of pharmaceutical substances as an aid to performance by professional athletes. It is well known that junior high school and senior high school athletes are inclined to emulate the professional.

Unfortunately, drugs are available to such young athletes through a variety of channels. Also, many people are misinformed as to the physiological effects of various drug substances upon athletic

The Journal of School Health

performance. In addition, the exact effects of some remain to be demonstrated.

Therefore , the American School Health Association condemns the use of substances such as hormones, stimulants, and narcotics for the purpose of enhancing performance in sports and further recommends that qualified personnel make a special effort to inform all coaches and athletes particularly those in junior and senior high schools of the unpredictable effects and potential hazards involved in the use of such substances.

Resolution No. 3 - School Medical Appraisals It is important that schools have an adequate

health evaluation of all pupils at, or soon after, their enrollment to plan their best educational program. However, some physical and emotional conditions may develop during their school years that would be benefitted by further testing and medical evaluation.

The American School Health Association, therefore, strongly urges school health and educational leaders to give priority to obtaining an adequate medical appraisal at or near enrollment and thereafter when health manpower is in short supply.

The American School Health Association also urges all state departments of education and state departments of health to encourage and promote private, clinic, or school physician medical evaluations on all pupils at or near enrollment and thereafter give priority to such appraisals when health problems or school situations arise that indicate that medical evaluation of a child is warranted. Periodic medical appraisals, at appropriate grade levels, can have value but are less significant than those made at entrance to school or done to meet an apparent need.

Resolution No. 4 - Pre and In-Service Educational

Programs for School Health Personnel The American School Health Association

recognizes the need for specific attention to pre- service and in-service education programs for

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Page 2: RESOLUTIONS APPROVED FOR THE YEAR 1972

school nurses, health educators and other school health personnel in order to provide effective school health programs.

The American School Health Association therefore urges each chief state school officer to request appropriate certification personnel to take prompt action to develop and promote improved pre-service education standards for school health personnel in each state.

The American School Health Association also urges each chief state education official to encourage each superintendent of a local school district to take an active part in planning inservice education programs, for all school personnel, that will reflect the health and developmental needs of the school-age child.

The American School Health Association further urges that each state department of education make qualified school health personnel available to assist local school districts in the development of such in-service education programs.

Resolution No . 5 - Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease passed

from parent to child through a gene called the “sickle cell trait,” and sickle cell anemia is often a fatal disease, terminating in death by the age of twenty in approximately half of those afflicted.

Approximately ten percent of our black population as well as a lesser number of our population with Mediterranean ancestry carry the sickle cell trait. Despite these facts, public education concerning this condition is very limited, and it is extremely important for all black Americans to find out if they carry the trait.

Therefore, the American School Health Association encourages efforts on the part of all of its members as well as affiliated professional groups pertaining to sickle cell disease. The ASHA also urges state, county, and local health departments to promote sickle cell programs and disseminate information concerning the disease through health courses in all schools, especially those with a sizable susceptible population.

Resolution No. 6 - Certification of Health Educators

Health education has a body of knowledge unique unto itself. This body of knowledge must include a basic understanding of health as well as teaching techniques and procedures. Therefore, a health educator who is properly prepared in both health and teaching methods is essential.

Accordingly, the American School Health Association urges state departments of education to develop certification requirements relating to health education for secondary schools that demand either a major or minor in health education.

The Association also recommends that these requirements for certification be vigorously enforced so that all health teachers in secondary schools will be in compliance with them.

To assure high quality, effective leadership in health education, the American School Health Association urges state departments of education to develop separate standards for the certification of health educators who will be working in schools. The American School Health Association also recommends that such standards for certification be enforced.

- 1 Resolution No . 7 - Anti-Health Behavior Many of the ailments suffered by the American

people, including children and youth, are to a’ large extent self-inflicted by anti-health behavior. Such anti-health behavior, including smoking, overeating, underexercising, drug (alcohol) abuse, are known to be detrimental to individual wellness and welfare.

Schools have an opportunity to play a major role in combatting these anti-health practices through comprehensive health education programs during the formative years. .

The American School Health Association, therefore, recommends that schools take advantage of this great opportunity in the health curr iculum to emphasize educat ion and motivation with respect to these anti-health practices.

, Resolution No . 8 - Health Education Related to Health Care

At the time a person receives preventive or remedial health care, a “teachable moment” obviously exists. At such moments the individual is potentially receptive to health education and more easily motivated than otherwise. This presents an unusual opportunity for involved school health personnel to inform and motivate the child or youth concerned.

Accordingly, the American School Health Association recommends that involved health personnel, wherever possible, utilize episodes of health care as opportunities for reinforcing health teaching. To realize the greatest potential in this sphere, a professionally prepared health educator

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should be utilized as a member of the health team in the planning for various f o r m of health care services.

Emergency Resolution Vision Screening Methods f o r Schools

Determination of the most efficient, adequate, and economical method of vision screening for use in schools has been a subject of national interest for many years. There are a number of test procedures available today, but school authorities have no current guidelines for their evaluation. This situation demands a major research project designed to objectively compare the various

testing procedures in terms of their relative accuracies and values and to identify those that might be recommended for use in schools. Therefore , the American School Health Association urges the National Society for Prevention of Blindness, along with other appropriate organizations, to initiate such a study patterned in general after the one carried out in St. Louis in 1948. The American School Health Association offers its full cooperation in planning and conducting such a study.

FRED V. HEIN, PH.D. Chairman of Resolutions Committee

197 1-72

COLOR DEFICIENT VERSUS COLOR BLIND

ELEANOR M. GRUNBERG, R.N., F.A.S.H.A.

The term color blindness is a misnomer. It is not unusual for a traumatic psychological response to occur when a student is informed that he is a victim of such a defect. In an attempt to cope with this problem, a calm explanation of the deficiency involved in this type of visual disturbance was employed and proved to be a reasonable approach. Since “color blindness” is rarely absolute but rather is a deficiency, the designation “color deficient” was used to explain the physical condition since students are accustomed to the use of such terminology to explain a lack of mechanical aptitude, sports ability, musical proficiency, etc. Immediate success was noted in the response of the students when the term “color deficient” was substituted for color blind. In addition, even the parents, who often became very concerned since they thought their child was going blind, were relieved to learn that there was a deficiency involved rather than a totality such as blindness indicates.

The Journal of School Health

Gratifyingly, efforts to change the term from color blind to color deficient have resulted in a reasonable amount of immediate acceptance. The Department of Education of the State of New Jersey has responded affirmatively to the change of terminology. The National Eye Institute of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, has stated that it would use the term color deficient. The American Optometric Association, Office of Public Relations, has indicated that in the printing of booklets concerning this visual defect, the term color deficient would be substituted henceforth. The World Health Organization has responded and indicated that the main office in Geneva has been informed of the proposed change in terminology.

At this point, further efforts are being made to disseminate this information to all school personnel in order to facilitate a universal change in terminology.

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