Abstract

In this talk I will present and discuss some of the challenges and perspectives in the educational work with health and sustainability as cross curricular issues is schools, based on ongoing educational research in Denmark in times of reform. As part of this, I will discuss relationships between international and national (Danish) policies within health promotion and education for sustainable development (ESD) in schools, focusing on common themes and challenges and on the transformation processes that occur on the trajectory from international to national domains.

Common characteristics of health education and education for sustainable development is that both are contested concepts, as these are complex and value loaded, open for interpretations and represent a certain authority. These characteristics pose certain common challenges for schools when it comes to determining the key pedagogical questions such as the aims, content, teaching strategies and desired outcomes of education for health and sustainability. Some of the analytical issues I would like to discuss in this regard are the balance between flexibility and rigidity, ‘fiery souls’ and norm supporting structures. The presentation will draw on research carried out in the Research Center on Health Promoting Sustainable School Development (www.shs.au.dk).