The Quiet Time program

In low-income urban schools, traumatic stress is a reality for millions of children who grow up in an oppressive climate of poverty, violence, and fear. This stress impedes learning and undermines physical and mental health. High stress levels also damage teachers and educators, resulting in extremely high burnout rates.The Quiet Time program is a practical, evidence-based approach to reduce stress and dramatically improve academic performance, student wellness and the school environment. Quiet Time provides students with two 15-minute periods of Transcendental Meditation each day to help balance their lives and improve their readiness to learn. This schoolwide program complements existing educational strategies by improving the physiological underpinnings of learning and behaviour. Transcendental Meditation, the core intervention of the Quiet Time Program, is a simple, easily learned technique, practiced by students and teachers while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It does not involve any religion, philosophy, or change in lifestyle. Over 340 published scientific studies document its effectiveness for improving health and learning. This approach has been adopted by hundreds of public, private and charter schools worldwide—with strong support from students, parents and educators (source: David Lynch Foundation)
-- Watch "Violence Rate Down 50% and Grades Up with TM in AZ School"
-- Watch "A Success Story: Transcendental Meditation in a New England High School"
-- Watch "Opening the Door to Self-Esteem at New Village Charter High School"
-- Read "Daily Meditation: A Bold Approach to Reducing Student Stress" on Edutopia