Teaching Meditation in Public Schools

The ancient practice of mindfulness meditation is finding its way into some American public schools. It’s a movement that is gaining momentum, and even though school meditation has its detractors, both researchers and school administrators have found that instituting mindfulness meditation as a regular part of the school day is helping students and teachers alike.

Alternative to Detentions

A number of schools throughout the country, most notably several in Baltimore have replaced the dreaded detention room with a course on meditation. Instead of reevaluating behavior through punishment, the detainees are taught to focus on their breath and be in the present moment as a form of behavior modification. However, incorporating meditation as a regular part of the school day is even better and may head off the behavior that put kids in trouble in the first place.

Teenagers are the Most Stressed Group

According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association in 2014, teens are by far the most stressed population group when school is in session. The drive to get good grades and even better standardized test scores, the need to gain admittance into top colleges along with participation in sports and working a part-time job all contribute to stress overload. Taking the time to relieve that stress through mindfulness meditation not only makes the students feel better but can also provide other far-reaching benefits.

While many of the current efforts are aimed at teenagers, younger children can also benefit. Although research on how meditation affects children is not as extensive as it is in adults, it stands to reason that younger practitioners could have the same, if not even greater effects. That’s because the developing brain is more malleable, allowing habit to be ingrained more easily.

Benefits of Including Meditation in the Public School Curriculum

Incorporating sessions of 10 to 15 minutes of mindful meditation as part of classes or even as part of extra-curricular activities have benefits both in and out of the classroom.

Increased Attention A 2004 study found that children with ADHD who learned meditation had better concentration at school, while a 2013 survey showed the boys with ADHD who participated in an eight-week mindfulness training course, experienced significantly less hyperactivity.