In the world today, we are faced with many different challenges and problems that weren’t in the world a hundred years ago, or weren’t as threatening. One of these many dangers is drugs. “I think most people in the world today are affected by drugs, even if it’s not directly,” Mr. Ryan Chambers, the health teacher at Springville Junior High explained. “Even family members participating in drug use can affect a person’s life.”

In health, students are required to learn about the dangers of drugs and ways they can refuse them. Mr. Chamber’s health classes, just recently finished their unit on learning about drugs and the dangerous threat they can be to a persons life.

“We discussed some of the main drugs, effects, and, most importantly, refusal skills,” Mr. Chambers explained. According to Mr. Chambers, there are nine main “refusal skills” that a person can resort to when asked to participate in drugs, including the delay tactic, avoiding the situation, the broken record (no, no, no, no) and giving a reason or excuse.

“Now is the time to learn about the dangers of drugs,” Mr. Chambers explained, “Sometimes at this time in a person’s life, students are more likely to listen to their peers then to their parents and teachers. It’s critical for students to surround themselves with friends that have the same standards.”

“I’m never going to take drugs; people that do, ruin their life, and the lives of those that watch them,” Mariah Snyder, a ninth-grade student at Springville Junior High explained.

Drugs are becoming more common and more dangerous. It’s a worry that everyone needs to be aware of.

Hasn’t everyone thought about a healthy way to lose or gain weight? Well, in Mr. Ryan Chambers’s health class students are learning how to both gain and lose weight. Mr. Chambers is teaching his students what will help people lose weight in a healthy way, limiting calories slowly will help with weight loss.  To gain weight, people should slowly start eating more and drink all-natural juice like orange juice or apple juice.

Mr. Chambers likes to teach this subject because he likes to help the kids know that there are other options other than anorexia or bulimia. But he also wants students to know how to gain weight in a healthy way, but not get unhealthy by eating everything they see. Mr. Chambers said, “It’s scary to think that the number one killer is heart disease, and it is something that can be prevented by regulating the nutrients we put into our bodies.”

Ryan Chambers, new health teacher at SJHS

Sarah Jensen
SJHS Staff Writer

Mr. Ryan Chambers is the health teacher at Springville Junior High. He teaches eighth and ninth graders. Shyenaia Luna, an eighth grader, said “Mr. Chambers explains the things we’re learning clearly and thoroughly.”

Mr. Chambers said, “I love teaching health! I feel it is the most important class you will ever take.”  Eric Harrison, another eighth grader, said, “So far I have been able to handle the topics well. Mr. Chambers has been a good teacher.” Mr. Chambers lives in Spanish Fork and has to come to Springville to teach. “To be honest, it would not really matter where I was teaching. I love helping students make healthy choices.” said Mr. Chambers.

His students agree that Mr. Chambers is funny and not too strict. So like Mr. Chambers always says, “You can be the smartest and most wealthy person in the world, but if you don’t have your health, then you have nothing.”