As the coordinator of the grant that developed the "Breastfeeding: First Step
to Good Health." a set of breastfeeding education materials for grades K-12,
I must tell you that I am disappointed about the brief comments that followed
the announcement that the materials were now available on the internet at
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nydoh/b-feed/index.htm
This is NOT a  stand-alone curriculum, it is designed to be integrated into
other mandated curriculum, e.g. history, nutrition, economics.  It was
developed by a specialist in the Dept of Education with input from a
Breastfeeding Advisory panel.  It was pilot tested by teachers at all grade
levels, rewritten and revised.
The purpose is to expose children from the early grades through high school
to the concept that breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed children.
The references to the use of pamphlets printed by formula companies should be
understood in the context that students are asked in that lesson to compare
literature describing breastfeeding.
Please, friends and collegues, understand that this was designed for a busy
teacher who might choose to teach this material, IN ADDITION, to everything
else she/he is mandated to teach. The teacher will probably not have the time
or energy to search out breastfeeding information.We hope that breastfeeding
advocates will be available when a teacher looks for additional information
but let's first have these materials considered by a school district.
As one who has been trying to get this information actually used, I will tell
you it is not easy. Let's congratulate the Department of Health and
Department of Education in New York Stsate who were the first to attempt this
effort!
Barbara Hayes, RN
New Rochelle, NY
mail to: [log in to unmask]

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