School from the spirit of public health? Health promotion in schools from a sociology of education perspective

In the context of health promotion in terms of the Ottawa Charter, a series of tasks and functions are attributed to schools, including the reduction of health and social inequalities. However, important theoretical considerations and empirical findings from the sociology of education, which analyzes school as a hierarchizing, segregating, inequality-producing, and reproducing institution, hardly find place in the public health debate on school health promotion. In this discussion article, some positions on schools from the sociology of education and the normative framework for health promotion in schools are presented. Furthermore, the contradictions between the goals of health promotion and the current conditions in schools, are discussed. In conclusion, some conceptual considerations are introduced from a perspective that rethinks education from the health promotion point of view and connects with inclusion, democracy education, and human rights.