Education News: Top Stories

California, USA: Success of Transcendental Meditation in schools
by Global Good News staff writer

Global Good News Translate This Article
5 June 2007

In California in the past year, the David Lynch Foundation has supported the teaching of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Technique in over 15 public, private, and charter schools.

One of the most dramatic projects in these schools is in the San Francisco Bay area where over 200 students and 40 teachers have all learned Transcendental Meditation. They have transformed, in their own words, one of the toughest schools in California into a 'glowing heavenly environment'.

The project began only four months ago, and already the faculty and principal are reporting that the school has been transformed and brought together in an unprecedented way. They report that both their lives and their teaching abilities have been transformed, and they said they would no longer teach in a school that doesn't offer TM.

All of the students love their daily meditation, and the principal is committed to making sure that the remaining students at the school learn TM.

The assistant principal said 'We're out here in a lot of high stress, a lot of violence in the neighbourhood. We have post-traumatic stress disorder counseling.... We'd really done a lot of work for [the] students although we knew we needed more. But we hadn't gotten into a plan that would help [the] staff as well—help with burnout, help with stress-related health problems....'

Another staff member said, 'The thing is, you have to remember I'm old and I'm Irish. I will basically disbelieve anything until I see it, until I try it. So when it was suggested, I thought Uh-huh—I am willing, I am open minded—but didn't really believe that it could possibly work. Teenage students—12,13 year olds sitting quietly—Not! But seeing is believing. It's amazing.'

A male student said 'When I learned it, I noticed it was different, because TM is not just closing your eyes; it's deeper than that. It makes you feel better, more energized, and takes away all your stress. It really really helps.'

Other staff members reported:

'... My students come in [and say] ''What's going on? Why are you so happy today?'' I'm not moody any more, and also my health—I'm doing great, going to the gym. I find a lot of energy after work...'

'I'm a principal of a school where people donate things, and [when] someone donates a book or a computer, it has a life of its own and after that it's no longer relevant to the situation. It goes back to the proverb of teaching the man to fish—if you give him a fish for dinner, he's had dinner, but if you teach him how to fish he'll be able to go out and get his own fish. And I think that's what this programme is able to give the kids. It's not something that's going to be just for this year and next year. But its something they'll be able to have as a lifelong tool to use, and that is very exciting to me....'

'It takes a half hour to do this a day, and I think its time well spent.'

Copyright © 2007 Global Good News(sm) Service

Global Good News comment:

For more information about Consciousness-Based Education, Click Here.

For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.

Translation software is not perfect; however if you would like to try it, you can translate this page using:

(Google)
(Altavista babelfish)