The School Health Education Study + 50 Years: Scholars' Reflections on Its Impact and Legacy.

Abstract Background: Launched 50 years ago, the School Health Education Study (SHES) examined the health education offerings in 135 public school systems, in 38 states, and over 1100 elementary schools and 350 secondary schools. In its second year, knowledge surveys were administered to students in grades 6, 9 and 12 at many of these schools. Analysis of the results in year three led to a one-word description of the state of health education in public schools-“appalling.” Subsequent years saw the SHES writing team engage in development of a conceptual approach to health education (through physical, mental and social dimensions) applied at four levels (K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) and in three learner domains (cognitive, affective and psychomotor). The SHES has been identified time and again for its pioneering effort to bring prominence to school health education. Purpose: We attempted to identify ways that the SHES has influenced health education practice in schools as told by school health education scholars. M...