School Health Legislation--One State's Experiences.

The author argues that legitimacy in curriculum offerings will result from exemplary programs serving community needs and involving community resources, rather than from legislative effort. In reviewing unsuccessful attempts to legislate a health education program in Nebraska, the following observations are made: (1) legislation "borrowed" from another state is highly at risk because it does not reflect local values; (2) health education continues to be a misunderstood term, and low in most people's priorities; (3) pro-health education forces overreached in seeking new legislation rather than in seeking funding for existing legislation--a case of unrealistic expectations; (4) lack of communication was a major factor in the failure of this effort; (5) proponents of the legislation seemed to have learned little from similar experiences in previous years; (6) "free floating fear," vague and general worry not directly attributable to the legislation itself, is almost impossible to counter without extensive public understanding and support of the legislation in question; and (7) efforts placed in a project to implement a model school health education curriculum, and to raise money for the materials and training, would likely have greater impact than promoting laws setting requirements or printing curriculum guides. (MJB)