Radio Commentary
Children’s health can have a
noticeable impact on their ability to learn.
Vision and hearing problems, in
particular, can affect a child’s ability to keep up in school.
That’s because an inability to see
the blackboard or hear the teacher can keep a student from understanding what
is being taught.
Distractions can also be caused by
dental problems or learning disabilities.
In Santa Barbara County, children
are screened for hearing, vision, and dental problems in kindergarten or first
grade, and again in second, fifth, eighth, and tenth grade.
In order to identify potential
health problems — including possible lead poisoning, the state requires
preventative physicals for all first-graders.
If a teacher or school nurse
notices a child is having a problem, a referral is made to the home.
In addition, tips from teachers can
help school psychologists identify behavioral or learning problems, such as
attention deficit disorder.
Nutrition and rest can also have an
impact on children’s learning.
Research has shown that children
who eat breakfast do better in school than those who do not.
Looking out for a child’s health,
and paying attention to nutrition and rest, are important ways parents can help
children succeed in school.
