تمرین مکالمه

Meditation In School Transforms Kids

One morning, the kids of Visitacion Valley Middle School found three dead bodies dumped in their schoolyard.

What did the kids of Visitacion Valley Middle School find dumped in their schoolyard one morning? One morning the kids found three dead bodies dumped in their schoolyard.

Sadly, these kids were used to violence and murder.

What were these kids used to? These kids were used to violence and murder.

In 2006 alone, there were 38 murders in the neighborhood.

How many murders were there in the neighborhood in 2006? In 2006, there were 38 murders in the neighborhood.

Crime and violence surrounded this San Francisco school.

What surrounded this San Francisco school? Crime and violence surrounded this San Francisco school.

The kids were anxiety-ridden and stressed, and their neighborhood was terrifying.

Who was anxiety-ridden and stressed? The kids were anxiety-ridden and stressed.

At school, this translated to physical fights, frequent absences and a lot of time spent in detention.

What did this translate to at school? At school, this translated to physical fights, frequent absences and a lot of time spent in detention.

Desperate for a way to help the children deal with stress, the school decided to try mandatory meditation.

Why did the school decide to try mandatory meditation? The school decided to try mandatory meditation to help the children deal with stress.

Perhaps in an attempt to make something foreign sound more palatable, they called it “Quiet Time.”

In an attempt to make something foreign sound more palatable, what did they decide to call it? They decided to call it “Quiet Time.”

During “Quiet Time” the kids learned Transcendental Meditation (TM).

When did the kids learn Transcendental Meditation (TM)? During “Quiet Time” these kids learned Transcendental Meditation (TM).

Transcendental Meditation is a technique for focusing the mind that is non- religious.

What is Transcendental Meditation? Transcendental Meditation is a technique for focusing the mind that is non-religious.

Practicing TM is simple.

Is practicing TM difficult? No. Practicing TM is not difficult. Practicing TM is simple.

It involves sitting for 15 to 20 minutes with eyes closed, silently repeating a mantra.

How many minutes are spent sitting with eyes closed? Fifteen to 20 minutes are spent sitting with eyes closed. What is silently repeated? A mantra is silently repeated.

Teachers at Visitacion Valley Middle School doubted that adding a simple meditation would help much.

Who doubted that adding a simple meditation would help much? Teachers at Visitacion Valley Middle School doubted that adding a simple meditation would help much.

They were shocked when they realized that “Quiet Time” was, in fact, changing their school in big ways, and for the better.

How did they feel about “Quiet Time”? They were shocked that “Quiet Time” was changing their school for the better.

Just a month after the students began the twice a day meditation, teachers noticed that students seemed happier.

When did teachers notice that students seemed happier? Just a month after the students began the twice a day meditation, teachers noticed that students seemed happier.

They paid more attention and worked harder.

Did they pay more attention and work harder? Yes, they paid more attention and worked harder.

Suspensions decreased by 45 percent, while attendance rose to over 98 percent.

What rose to over 98 percent? Attendance rose to over 98 percent. What decreased by 45 percent? Suspensions decreased by 45 percent.

Best of all, California’s education department found that the students at Visitacion Valley Middle School were the happiest kids in all of San Francisco.

What did they find out about the students? They found out that the students were the happiest kids in all of San Francisco.

For fifteen minutes, twice a day the kids sit with their eyes closed.

How long do the kids sit with their eyes closed? For fifteen minutes twice a day, the kids sit with their eyes closed.

They repeat their own personal mantra in their head.

What do they repeat in their head? They repeat their own personal mantra in their head.

In that silence space, they find peace.

Where do they find peace? In that silent space, they find peace.

It turns out, according to research, TM can help adults, too.

According to research, who else can TM help? According to research, TM can help adults, too.

One study found that TM lowered blood pressure, reduced the risk of heart attack, and slowed biological aging.

Did they find that TM lowered blood pressure? Yes, they found that TM lowered blood pressure. What did they find it reduced? They found it reduced the risk of heart attack. Did they also find that it slowed biological aging? Yes, they found that it also slowed biological aging.

The next time your environment seems too stressful to cope with, think about closing your eyes and taking some “quiet time.”

What could you do the next time your environment seems too stressful to cope with? The next time your environment seems too stressful to cope with, think about closing your eyes and taking some “quiet time.”

You just might find that no matter what happens outside, you can always find peace inside.

Where can you always find peace? You can always find peace inside.

Can you find peace inside?