[Introduction of health education in Vaud schools]

The traditional activities of screening are the prerogative of the school health professionals. Nonetheless health education should be approached in an interdisciplinary fashion and involve the form teachers as well as the specialized area teachers. This article describes a program of health education which is about to be organized in the canton of Vaud. This programs plans for the introduction of health education in the general curriculum and not limit it to a specific period or course. The themes are graded to the age of the pupils. Documents are being worked out by an ad hoc committee and will be available to teachers who desire them. The article also reviews the present activities in health education both at primary and secondary levels and reports on a number of experiences to make teachers aware of health problems. The article concludes on the advantages and difficulties that are linked, on the one hand, to the introduction of education for health in the basic curriculum and, on the other hand, to the use of teachers as promoters of health awareness.