Ontario Ministry of Education Seeks Feedback to Better Support Student Well-Being
Posted: November 23, 2016
Categories: Edible Education Network / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario / Schools
The Ontario Government is exploring how it can better support student well-being (from kindergarten – grade 12), and is looking for feedback from the public until March 19, 2017 (extended from Jan. 15). Sustain Ontario’s Edible Education Network is taking this opportunity to highlight how healthy eating and food education make up an essential piece of the well-being puzzle.
The Ministry of Education has developed an engagement paper as part of the process, Deepening Our Understanding of Well-Being in Ontario Schools and How to Support It, as well as a number of tools so communities can hold their own engagement sessions. The public can submit feedback online or via an engagement session.
In their materials, the Ministry of Education has outlined 4 domains of well-being: cognitive, emotional, social and physical (healthy eating is included under the physical domain).
We’re encouraging our members, friends and supporters to offer your informed feedback and input on the significant role that healthy eating plays in the well-being of young minds and bodies, as we know that good food and food education contribute to well-being in a number of ways.
Not only does healthy eating support physical health, but research is increasingly suggesting that the food we eat can have a huge impact on mental health, including depression and anxiety. Healthy eating and good food education also have the power to support learning and cognitive development (it’s hard to learn on an empty stomach!), and food-related lessons can engage students in subjects across the curriculum, from math concepts (e.g. adding 1/2 a cup of beans to a recipe) to social studies (e.g. exploring different food cultures). Food is also well known to help build community and social connections. Many of our member organizations prove this through their educational programs that connect young people with healthy food in their community.
On the province’s website, the Ministry of Education explains: “Work is happening every day in local school communities to promote and support the well-being of students. At the same time, we also know that there are significant challenges and more work is necessary to support the well-being of all Ontario learners. The Ministry of Education wants to learn from, and build on the successful work underway, as we collectively move forward on our shared goal of promoting student well-being.”
With the public feedback and contributions from partner ministries, the Ministry of Education will develop a provincial student well-being framework for kindergarten-grade 12 that will work to reflect the shared commitments and positive outcomes wanted for Ontario students.
Let’s ensure that this framework acknowledges the importance of good food and healthy eating for the well-being of Ontario students! Provide your feedback online today.