Elders Pushes for Health Education

Comprehensive health education from kindergarten through 12th grade is crucial to reducing the numbers of children born out of wedlock, Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders said Sunday.

Schools teach driver’s education, “but when we come to health education, which includes sexuality education, we refuse to teach them that,” Elders said on ABC-TV’s “This Week With David Brinkley.”

“A major cause of children dying is really related to many of the social problems impacting their health, so I really feel we need to have a comprehensive health education program in our schools from kindergarten through 12th grade,” she said.

Elders said health education must include the entire spectrum of social issues, including drugs, alcohol, sex and violence. “It’s not going in there and giving them a plumbing lesson. I feel that’s a waste of time,” she said.

She said only 5% of public schools now have comprehensive programs.

Elders noted that 85% of children from upper- and middle-income families receive early childhood education but that only 18% of children on welfare do so. “They’re the ones who absolutely need it the most,” she said.