When you think of mindfulness and yoga, what do you think of?
Relaxation?
Flexability?
Acceptance?
For parents in Kennesaw, GA, the only thoughts were on religion.
Bullard Elementary School has taught mindfulness and de-stressing strategies to students for years. But now parents have complained about how they are being taught. The term "namaste", for example, is used as a greeting in India and means "the light in me sees the light in you". For some parents, this crosses a line that suggests encouraged ideology. Same goes for Pranamasana, a tradition where you put your hands together and bow. Parents compared these practices to prayer in schools, which is not allowed.
The school district has been open to parent suggestions and has worked to change how these skills are being taught to students. But school social workers often rely on a variety of different relaxation, mindfulness, and stress relief strategies when working with students. Do you think that the school district was, in fact, taking it too far and pushing ideology on students? What are other techniques that may be used in schools that could possibly be considered inappropriate?
http://www.11alive.com/news/education/school-apologizes-for-mindfulness-yoga-after-complaints/96838332
Personally, I really like the idea of teaching yoga in schools but I can also understand the concerns that some parents are bringing forward. I would be curious about the way it's being taught and whether students are required to participate. Maybe they could use yoga as an "elective" that parents would need to sign a permission form in order for their child to participate. Interesting idea!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really like the idea of teaching yoga in schools but I can also understand the concerns that some parents are bringing forward. I would be curious about the way it's being taught and whether students are required to participate. Maybe they could use yoga as an "elective" that parents would need to sign a permission form in order for their child to participate. Interesting idea!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point about a waiver for parents, I hadn't considered Ally.
ReplyDeleteBecause I think this is a great strategy to understand feelings and managing stress. Especially in this day and age of fight first and figure out details second. I would imagine there are some evidence based yoga, mindfulness that are maybe more generic. But what is described does not seem overly religious/spiritual.
That is a good point about a waiver for parents, I hadn't considered Ally.
ReplyDeleteBecause I think this is a great strategy to understand feelings and managing stress. Especially in this day and age of fight first and figure out details second. I would imagine there are some evidence based yoga, mindfulness that are maybe more generic. But what is described does not seem overly religious/spiritual.
I think that yoga in the schools is a great idea and that it should be implemented in all schools if possible. I do not think that the school took it too far, from my point of view everything that they are teaching are concepts in yoga and in my eyes that is all they are teaching the children is yoga. I fell that if the children themselves were not taught w=about the religion and the meanings about it then they are not being this particular ideology of the religion but a simple aspect that is apart of that religion or culture.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of teaching yoga in the schools but do not know how possible it is with testing and such. Often times children need to understand mindfulness and how to cope with stress and etc., which yoga could help them with those issues.
ReplyDelete