Through the analysis of textbooks for primary school children published during the period of 19451980, 1980, the author in this survey was concerned with the followings: 1) Have there been any change in health education according to the reorganizations of textbooks? 2) What proportion has health education borne to the whole contents of the curriculum? 3) is there a possibility of establishing health education as an independent subject in view of its quantity? 4) What is a desirable distribution of the contents on health education to the entire subjects of the curriculum?
To achieve such a goal, total 325 volumes were analyzed, which are 96.15% of all the textbooks that: came out during the period (The Inventory of Korean Textbooks).
Five periods were distinguished in accordance with the reorganization of textbooks: 1) 1945.1950, 2) 1952-1955, 3) 19561962, 4) 19631972, 5) 19731980.
As for the items-on health education, following eight items regarding personal health needs were" distinguished; 1) physical growth, 2) nutrition & food, 3) elimination, 4) exercises. & plays, 5) sleep & rest, 6) good posture, 7) personal hygiene, 8) safety. In addition, such contents as are in connection with special knowledge’s & skills on the field of health e.g. fundamental nursing, first-aid care, anatomy &physiology, population & pollution, etc. were also considered.
The obtained results of conclusions are as follows.
1. It was observed that the proportion of health education to the whole contents had been decreasing during the period of 1945-1972, it was 10.98--14.90°,0 in the texts for the lower grades and 3.22-4. 41% in the texts for the higher ones. From 1973 on, it was 6.59% & 2. 46% in the texts for the lower and higher grades respectively.
This is directly contrary to the necessity of the reinforcement of health education both in its quantity & quality; for it goes with saying that the-health of children is the fundamental basis for constructing a society of well-being.
2. As for the subjects that put comparatively much emphasis on health education, `Nature´´ & Korean ranked the first &: the second in the lower grades. In the higher ones, `Physical Education´, ´Nature´& `Practical Studies´ emphasized health education in the order named: it was a common trend for each period.
When we concern ourselves with the systematization of health education, it is thought that we can design a way these subjects being focused
3. Nearly no difference was shown between the lower grades & the higher ones in the contents on health education: exercises & plays, personal hygiene and nutrition & food were the items that frequently appeared in the textbooks both in the lower grades & the higher ones. This means- that health education of the past has missed the striking differences in the degree of maturity of children between the lower grades & the higher ones.
To reflect such differences it is required that more emphasis on the personal health needs should be put in the lower grades and, special knowledge’s on the field of health should be reinforced in the higher ones.
It is recommended that health education should -be established as an independent subject and that textbook for the lower grades and those for the higher ones should- be distinguished.
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