A new edition of a comprehensive student Health textbook is now available at book stores throughout Kingstown.{{more}}

The first edition of “How the Body Works”, written by teacher Irrith O’Garro, was published back in 2003. A new revised edition has just been published with few additional topics.

O’Garro told SEARCHLIGHT that the book was compiled from health education notes used from her teaching lessons and covers the general functions of the body, giving details of the parts and functions of the many organs and systems within the human body. The book also covers mental and social health and well being. It caters to students from Grades 5 to 8.

O’Garro explained that the there is currently no Health Education text on the Primary Schools’ book list, though there are science books which cover basic Health Education topics. Her book is not on the official primary and secondary schools’ book lists as an official text, but appears on book lists as a supplementary text, which means that teachers or students have a choice to use the text.

She stated that the book is also used by teachers as a guide while teaching, as it is a compilation of the information required by the syllabus.

The language of the textbook is simple, making it easy to understand by primary and lower level secondary students. The diagrams are also similar to those given for the Common Entrance and lower Secondary School exams.

O’Garro has been a teacher for twenty years, spending four years at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School and sixteen years at the Kingstown Anglican School. She also writes short stories, books and educational card games and board games for children. She, however, has no immediate plans to publish her other writings.

The text is available at the following bookstores: Gaymes Book Centre, Harvey’s Pharmacy in Union Island, Jujube Book Store, Nightingale Book Shop and the St. Vincent Union of Teachers’ Co-operative Credit Union Bookshop.(OS)