Talk:Anorexia nervosa

From WikEd

I first saw this topic and was not sure exactly how it related to the classroom. However, after reading and thinking about it for a bit, I now feel it makes a lot of sense. As a teacher, I feel like I spend so much time in my day focusing on those kids with obvious problems or lack of motivation in the classroom. What about the students on the opposite end of the spectrum. I have had many friends who have dealt with eating disorders and they are often secrets and hidden by the otherwise seemingly normal existence. But, as teachers I think it is important to pay attention when we see evidence of students, especially girls, who are very critical of themselves or have body image problems, we need to take it seriously. So many people are afraid to approach the subject, including myself, but we can't be.--Karrie Kearney

I strongly feel that our attitudes in the classroom can have an affect regarding persons' weight and or eating disorders. It's an uphill battle today, especially when you see articles such as the recent scandal committed by Tyra Banks. How dare a former model not be skinny! [Tyra Banks in People Magazine] It is so important as an authority figure to watch our wording and to not reinforce stereotypes of what is acceptable in how one looks. As a parent to a 12 year old boy, I am very careful not to obsess about my own weight issues or talk about diets, or who is fat in front of him. It is just as important to teach boys that a girl is the sum of all her parts- intelligence, kindness, humor, fun to be with, and not just about the outer package, as it is to reinforce to girls that they are MORE than how they look. In the classroom, even with elementary students, I hear girls talk about themselves as "too fat". As teachers, our role may be small in preventing anorexia or eating disorders, but I do feel that praising students for their good choices, and showing them that they have choices to make for their own happy life is a small step in the right direction.