In the 2002-2003 school year, there were 41 murders in the neighborhood of Visitacion Valley Middle School. Young students were playing "cops and robbers" with real guns, and many suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2007, the principal instituted a program called "Quiet Time" to teach meditation to every student in the school, with dramatic results. Truancy rate fell by more than 7 percent (while the average for the State rose to 30 percent) and suspensions fell by more than 50 percent. Twelve minutes at the beginning and twelve minutes at the end of school day have given these children a coping mechanism to deal with the many stresses of poverty and violence in their lives.

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  • David

    The quiet time program at this school is Transcendental Meditation which is effortless natural and involves no control or concentration. Research shows that the metabolic changes during TM are unique and that the predominant style of brain activity during TM is completely different from concentration, focusing or mindfulness meditation. It is important to be rigorous and be aware of the distinction. You can't expect to get the same results from a different program.

  • Elizabeth

    Emotional and social intelligence will soon be common curriculum in schools. What an inspirational and progressive story to showcase the need for it. At a primary level, I have found the Mindful Schools curriculum to give young students an opportunity to learn similar skills at their developmental level.

  • Barbara

    change is possible thank you for the courage and stamina to make a change I am a retired school teacher who remembers standing alone within a system so did what I could behind closed doors so I would not be targeted or have to defend the behavior that appears to be something outside of the standards!!!! Bravo to the best thing that happened to education besides lowering class size. thank you

  • Jay Nair

    Quiet time ia an amazing idea for schools to practise. As a regular practitioner of meditation I know what meditation can do to oneself but this video highlighted the fact how it could make a difference to our future generation who are now children. Kudos to the Principal and the team at the school that has introduced the Quiet time. May it spread across to other institutions too.

  • Renae Johnson

    Everything about starting and ending your day to reflect what is, was and can be bring peace. Quiet time is an awesome idea and it show how the kids, teachers, parents and everyone benefit from it.

  • Brenda Moore

    More to my comment, and The bible says, in the Our FATHER PRAYER, OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN HOLLOWED BE THINE, NAME THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, WHEN GODS, WILL WIL BE DONE, ON EARTH, THAT MEANS, THERE WILL BE A CLEAN EARTH, NO MORE CRIME, NO MORE DEATH, NO MORE SUFFERING, NO MORE GREED, NO MORE HAUGHTY SPIRIT, NO MORE SELFISHNESS, NO MORE CEMETARIES, NO MORE HOSPITALS, A CLEAN HUMBLE EARTH, AND JEHOVAH GOD, WILL BE THE PRESIDENT, THE CHIEF IN COMMAND, AND RULE THIS EARTH, AS HE ALREADY RULES THE HEAVENS, GOD IS OUR FATHER, GOD CAN'T LIE, GOD ALWAYS TELLS THE TRUTH, AND TRUTH SHALL, AND WILL SET YOU FREE, FROM SATAN BONDAGES ON EARTH, LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF HOLY FATHER. MEDITATE QUIETLY ASK HOLY FATHER FOR ANSWERS, THATS MATURITY, BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEEK YOUR HOLY FATHER WHO TRULY LOVES YOU, THEN YOU WILL REALIZE, GOD CREATED ALL PEOPLE, AND VALUES LIFE, AND LOVES ALL, AND WANTS YOU TO REPENT, AND CHANGE YOUR NEGATIVE WAYS, GOD IS WILLING AND JUST JUDGE HOLY CHIEF IN COMMAND, OF OUR SOULS, AND SPIRIT, SEEK GOD, LIKE NOAH DID, SEEK JEHOVAH GOD, IN JESUS HOLY NAME, THERE WILL BE MILLIONS OF HOLY PEOPLE LIVING ON THE EARTH IN A PARADISE EARTH, AND JEHOVAH GOD WILL BE RULING FROM HIS GOVERNMENT, IN THE Heavens, with the 144,000 government holy anointed forever in revelations, forever amen...

  • Brenda Moore

    Quiet time is excellent time, for positive thinking meditating, on our Creator Jehovah God, in Jesus Holy name. When we think quietly, we can reflect, on our thoughts, and won't be chaotic in mind, but calmness, and meekness, of mind we can have and accomplish. Most talented, and humble people are quiet, and the bible says, to listen and think, before you speak. Jehovah God Almighty Creator, of the Universe, Loves every one in Jesus Holy Name, Psalms 83:18 SAYS THAT MEN MAY KNOW THAT JEHOVAH GOD IS THE MOST HIGH, OVER ALL THE EARTH. AND WHEN HOLY FATHER GIVES YOU KNOWLEDG, WHEN YOU MEDITATE POSITIVELY, WILL SET YOU FREE. satan has a short time, with his demonic forces, and he knows it. Jehovah God sent his son, to give you life, through his Holy Word, meditate on Gods word, for it is your life. One day there will be no more cemetaries, no more death, no more hospitals, because, JEHOVAH GOD LOVES PEOPLE, AND HE IS GIVING US A CHANCE, TO REPENT, AND DRAW CLOSE TO HIM, FOR EVERLASTING LIFE. LISTEN MEDITATE, HUMBLE YOURSELVES, FOR OUR PURPOSE, IS TO BE HUMBLE, JESUS IS HUMBLE, WHO JEHOVAH GOD SENT, FOR 33YRS ON THE EARTH, AS A MISSION, TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS, WE HAVE A CHANCE, SATAN WAS KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN, WITH HIS DEMONIC FORCES, AND SATAN, HAS A SHORT TIME, ONE DAY JEHOVAH GOD WILL DESTROY SATAN, AND HIS DEMONIC FORCES, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST, WILL BE RESURRECTED, AND THE 144,000 WILL HAVE THE HEAVENLY HOPE, TO RULE WITH JEHOVAH GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, GOD SON. REIGNING FOREVER IN A CLEAN GOVERNMENT, WITH LOVE, FROM JEHOVAH GOD, SEEK YOUR LOVING FATHER, MEDITATE PRAY PRAY PRAY, AND SEEK HOLY SPIRIT FOR DECERNMENT, JEHOVAH GOD LOVES YOU AMEN...

  • Linda

    i have been a meditator for over 20 years, i have seen such a transformation in the quality of my life, my thoughts, actions, motivations, and volitions, my ability to feel, to share, to respond, to care,to appreciate ...there is nothing better than to sit with oneself silently getting to know my own nature...harmonizing with all of nature, learning from our deep inner connection to everything that is...it is the greatest education with the most fantastic benefits...There is nothing better than seeing children benefit from this time spent in silence...thisexperience will be with them for their whole lives and will permeate everything that they do...let us all take good time to learn in silence...and carry peacefulness, reflectiveness, and thoughtfullness into our lives into our actions into our world...Thank you Thank you for taking a chance, for trying.... a very ancient way... in present time

  • Jane

    Everything about this video was inspirational. Wow! Good for Visitacion Valley Middle School for trying this innovative program. I'm a firm believer in meditation and I know it works to relieve stress, anger, and fear. Thank you, Karma Tube for sharing yet another amazing story with me.

  • Patricia

    It was so beautiful to watch these kids meditate in school and feel the peacefulness that they eminated. So glad to hear the SF School District has implemented this program. There's no beeter way to help these children, their families and community, than to learn to manage their stress. Bless all involved in this program and the film maker. Thank you.

  • Betsy Randel

    I love the video but think it that is should be made clear that it is T.M.- Transcendental Meditation, that is what the students have learned- not just "meditation". I taught T.M. for many years and it is the most effective type of meditation there is. The David Lynch Foundation is raising funds to offer this program in many schools thoughout the U.S.

  • carlton

    This is a great video - I am inspired to see about bringing this into the classroom. Through meditation - the students become more joyful, motivated and successful while the teacher have less turnover and absenteeism. It seems like a win-win project. I applaud those who are involved in this.

  • bob banner

    Yes quiet time can be great.. but I think laughing and dancing is more effective at calming the mind rather than taking a stressful person to quiet, there needs to be a transition. For myself I need to do laughter and ecstatic dance before I can really enjoy a deeper and more profound and real meditation... using meditation as "coping" where most of these kids need to laugh and cry and scream and dance... thanks for listening....

  • vanessa

    My husband and 2 young daughters meditate 2 times a day...the shift in our family dynamic, our mindset as well as coping skills improved dramatically once adopting this habit!

  • maria

    More than quiet time, there has to be real communication. Not just suspicion,of the other. Quiet time can't be motivated by anger, frustration or I'll get that guy. What is put into the quiet time would be better if the thoughts are directed toward peace. What you meditate on makes the difference. What you put in front of the inner mirror is what is reflected. If you meditate on higher forces and the right things, it will lead to those things. Consciousness is about ONENESS. Touch the Future. The Future starts with now. Youth are people that have great awareness when the right attitudes and examples are available.

  • Karen

    So simple yet so effective !

  • Dusty

    Wonderful, life can be better no matter what!

  • Carrie

    What a fantastic idea!! I think every school should incorporate this. In society today there is an enormous amount of stress on everyone including children. Meditation soothes the soul and calms the mind. Congratulations on taking this initiative on.

  • sethi

    Thank you very much . It is beautiful .

  • Jeremy

    Every one of us can be the change.

  • Page 1

  • Learn about other successful programs and strategies that improve the way students learn at Edutopia - "Schools That Work."
  • Studies have shown changes related to awareness, memory and stress on our brains as a result of meditation. Read more about the cognitive and psychological benefits of meditation.
  • Build your mental muscles - spend 12 minutes a day in mindful meditation.

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