Public school students? perceptions of the environment and food available at the school: an emancipatory approach

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the perceptions of students from public school concerning the environment and food available at the school. From the perspective of a qualitative approach according to action research assumptions, workshops were held in Group Dynamics (GD) with students from public schools Ceilândia-DF. At the end of each workshop, children wrote letters to parents and educators with proposals for changes and suggestions for the design of an environment enabling healthier choices, which were subjected to content analysis. Results show clearly that the students distinguish appropriate and healthy and unhealthy food, as well as discern the reasons that determine and sustain unhealthy choices. The children’s insight surprised decision makers and educators, who recommend healthy consumption but do not facilitate access to these foods in schools. Students’ suggestions for building a healthy environment include measures, from a reflective process, to be implemented gradually. The perceptions of children in school is that wholesome choices need to be supported. It pointed out the need to reframe the practices of educators and health professionals in order to increase the effective participation of children in developing proposals to be developed in schools. It stresses the importance of listening to them as protagonists in building a healthy environment in school and activating the processes of change in this area in view of the clarity and insight that demonstrate the difficulties inherent in identifying the choices.