Deleted
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May 17, 2024 5:03:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2018 14:24:47 GMT
From the ACLJ (the evangelicals' counterpart to the ACLU - clever, right?!?!)
"Imagine your elementary school child coming home one night and explaining the actions that their teacher asked them to do that day — to close their eyes and obey an audio recording that tells them to clear their minds, to watch their memories and emotions float away on clouds, and to feel the love and warmth from their connection to the universe. How would you react if this same audio recording is telling your child to look inside themselves to reach inner-goodness and peace? Imagine that day after day, your child is subjected to 15-minute “Mindfulness” sessions that are similar to anciently established Buddhist and Hindu practices....
The schools are using curriculums including but not limited to Inner Explorer, Mind Up, and Dialectic Behavior Therapy. An audio is played telling young students: “We’re all connected through nature. And we’re all connected through the universe.” It tells them how to clear their minds, watch their memories and emotions float away on clouds, and connect with the universe."
Um, I'd be just fine w/it. Especially because these meditation practices have been shown to help kids and adults and prisoners and many others in dealing w/the numerous stresses of life. And even more especially because they do not mention Buddhism or Hinduism, ACLJ, YOU do that. The practices are specifically kept secular.
What a sad sad crotchety bunch, who want to strip away even meditation at the altar of their narrow-mindedness.
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Deleted
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May 17, 2024 5:03:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2018 14:25:03 GMT
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400 
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Post by ashley on Dec 17, 2018 14:30:50 GMT
So tired of people with small minds. Cannot they find a way to be happy and decent?
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Post by Merge on Dec 17, 2018 14:39:07 GMT
Ugh. You don't want to fund the public schools well enough to have psychology services available for students who need it, and you don't want to fund healthcare that might provide mental health services, but when a teacher tries to help kids with anxiety or anger issues (on top of everything else she's already teaching), you're going to throw a fit about that too.
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,633
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Post by janeliz on Dec 17, 2018 14:55:24 GMT
I started reading up on the use of mindfulness in schools when one of my daughter’s teachers introduced it to some of her students. I was so impressed at how amazingly effective it can be for kids and teens with discipline problems and attention issues. Teens, especially.
It’s just so much easier to wring one’s hands and lament the state of today’s schools and kids than it is to explore new solutions and ideas. Everything is just so damn scary, huh Evangelicals?
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Post by gar on Dec 17, 2018 14:58:41 GMT
What are they so VERY afraid of?
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Dec 17, 2018 15:02:47 GMT
Good grief. This is just like the whackos who ban yoga groups from hiring church halls for fear of letting the devil in.
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Post by pierkiss on Dec 17, 2018 15:04:42 GMT
I am going to preface this by saying I have no problem with mindfulness being taught and utelized in the schools. It’s fine, and it helps.
————
“Mindfulness” sessions that are similar to anciently established Buddhist and Hindu practices....
————-
We have separation of church and state in this country. No religion is to be taught in a public school. If the parents that are so upset about the mindfulness techniques can show that these practices are actually parts of religious education (that’s not really the right phrase I’m looking for here but I can’t think of it now), they might actually have a leg to stand on with not having it in the schools. Because, they are not allowed to teach their prayers for their religion to the students, so why should forms of Buddhism or Hinduism be ok and actively taught and promoted by the public school systems?
Just something to think about. I’m not saying that this is the case. But it will not surprise me at all if someone tries to challenge thisbin court citing religion and public schools and separation or church and state.
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400
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Post by ashley on Dec 17, 2018 15:07:54 GMT
Meditating and being mindful does not have to be a religious practice. It’s not a form of worship.
Compare it to singing... you can sing to praise god, or you can sing. Should all schools outlaw music?
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Post by Merge on Dec 17, 2018 15:22:45 GMT
I am going to preface this by saying I have no problem with mindfulness being taught and utelized in the schools. It’s fine, and it helps. ———— “Mindfulness” sessions that are similar to anciently established Buddhist and Hindu practices.... ————- We have separation of church and state in this country. No religion is to be taught in a public school. If the parents that are so upset about the mindfulness techniques can show that these practices are actually parts of religious education (that’s not really the right phrase I’m looking for here but I can’t think of it now), they might actually have a leg to stand on with not having it in the schools. Because, they are not allowed to teach their prayers for their religion to the students, so why should forms of Buddhism or Hinduism be ok and actively taught and promoted by the public school systems? Just something to think about. I’m not saying that this is the case. But it will not surprise me at all if someone tries to challenge thisbin court citing religion and public schools and separation or church and state. Some form of mindfulness practice is a part of almost every religion. Prayer is a form of mindfulness. Walking a prayer maze is a form of mindfulness. Jews and Muslims have rituals that are forms of mindfulness. The African drumming circles I re-create in my classroom are a form of mindfulness. How can a practice so ubiquitous possibly be tied to any one religion? It can't. The Evangelicals' problem with all this is that someone might discover that once can be mindful, centered and at peace without also invoking their God. And they just can't have that. |
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Post by mustlovecats on Dec 17, 2018 15:23:41 GMT
I’ve had parents who perceived that mindfulness teaching was like meditation, which they feel sketchy about. The thing is that it’s very ill defined and a bit nebulous and it makes it hard for parents to understand what’s really being taught and they worry that it’s in conflict with their religious values. If they understand that it’s just a mechanism for self calming and return to focus they often find that it dovetails with their prayer and faith practice just fine.
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Post by pierkiss on Dec 17, 2018 15:36:10 GMT
I am going to preface this by saying I have no problem with mindfulness being taught and utelized in the schools. It’s fine, and it helps. ———— “Mindfulness” sessions that are similar to anciently established Buddhist and Hindu practices.... ————- We have separation of church and state in this country. No religion is to be taught in a public school. If the parents that are so upset about the mindfulness techniques can show that these practices are actually parts of religious education (that’s not really the right phrase I’m looking for here but I can’t think of it now), they might actually have a leg to stand on with not having it in the schools. Because, they are not allowed to teach their prayers for their religion to the students, so why should forms of Buddhism or Hinduism be ok and actively taught and promoted by the public school systems? Just something to think about. I’m not saying that this is the case. But it will not surprise me at all if someone tries to challenge thisbin court citing religion and public schools and separation or church and state. Some form of mindfulness practice is a part of almost every religion. Prayer is a form of mindfulness. Walking a prayer maze is a form of mindfulness. Jews and Muslims have rituals that are forms of mindfulness. The African drumming circles I re-create in my classroom are a form of mindfulness. How can a practice so ubiquitous possibly be tied to any one religion? It can't. The Evangelicals' problem with all this is that someone might discover that once can be mindful, centered and at peace without also invoking their God. And they just can't have that. Agreed. All I’m saying though is it only takes one religious nutball who will try and ruin it for everyone. |
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eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Dec 17, 2018 15:46:35 GMT
MF'ing science getting in the way of my beliefs. How dare we know it works on a medical level! God forbid we try to offer the cheapest and one of the most effective ways to deal with the basic mental health disorders.
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lurkyloo
Full Member
Posts: 284
Dec 5, 2018 6:53:08 GMT
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Post by lurkyloo on Dec 17, 2018 16:22:14 GMT
Oh, I’d be super upset. I’d demand that school go right back to the capitalist-machine driven workaholic heart attack by age 45 destroy your competition winner takes all every man for himself bootstrapping philosophy that has always worked just perfectly for this country, thank you.
EYEROLL
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,920
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Post by pilcas on Dec 17, 2018 17:30:30 GMT
These people are beyond disgusting.
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,375
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Post by cycworker on Dec 17, 2018 17:54:55 GMT
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. We do mindfulness / centering prayer in our church, so I don't have a problem with the concept.
I do have a problem with the language of that script in the first paragraph. On its own, it does exclude Christians. The teacher needs to acknowledge that some people do connect with their inner selves through Christ. So before using the tape the teacher should be telling the kids to substitute God or Jesus where it fits, if that's their faith grounding.
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Post by peano on Dec 17, 2018 18:21:21 GMT
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. We do mindfulness / cantering prayer in our church, so I don't have s problem with the concept. I do have a problem with the language of that script in the first paragraph. On its own, it does exclude Christians. The teacher needs to acknowledge that some people do connect with their inner selves through Christ. So before using the tape the teacher should be telling the kids to substitute God or Jesus where it fits, if that's their faith grounding. Could you point out what part of that first paragraph “excludes Christians”. |
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Post by flanz on Dec 17, 2018 18:24:24 GMT
I am going to preface this by saying I have no problem with mindfulness being taught and utelized in the schools. It’s fine, and it helps. ———— “Mindfulness” sessions that are similar to anciently established Buddhist and Hindu practices.... ————- We have separation of church and state in this country. No religion is to be taught in a public school. If the parents that are so upset about the mindfulness techniques can show that these practices are actually parts of religious education (that’s not really the right phrase I’m looking for here but I can’t think of it now), they might actually have a leg to stand on with not having it in the schools. Because, they are not allowed to teach their prayers for their religion to the students, so why should forms of Buddhism or Hinduism be ok and actively taught and promoted by the public school systems? Just something to think about. I’m not saying that this is the case. But it will not surprise me at all if someone tries to challenge thisbin court citing religion and public schools and separation or church and state. Some form of mindfulness practice is a part of almost every religion. Prayer is a form of mindfulness. Walking a prayer maze is a form of mindfulness. Jews and Muslims have rituals that are forms of mindfulness. The African drumming circles I re-create in my classroom are a form of mindfulness. How can a practice so ubiquitous possibly be tied to any one religion? It can't. The Evangelicals' problem with all this is that someone might discover that once can be mindful, centered and at peace without also invoking their God. And they just can't have that. You have drumming circles in class? I want to come! |
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Post by katiejane on Dec 17, 2018 18:26:20 GMT
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. We do mindfulness / cantering prayer in our church, so I don't have s problem with the concept. I do have a problem with the language of that script in the first paragraph. On its own, it does exclude Christians. The teacher needs to acknowledge that some people do connect with their inner selves through Christ. So before using the tape the teacher should be telling the kids to substitute God or Jesus where it fits, if that's their faith grounding. But then, you would be introducing religion. And then what faith's do you cater for and which ones do you not. Surely a no faith is less offensive. Parents will have lots of opportunities to allow there child to practice mediation/mindfulness in the framework of their faith at home, church. To be honest I think it's great schools are supporting children to develop these skills to help support their mental health for life. |
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400
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Post by ashley on Dec 17, 2018 18:26:58 GMT
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. We do mindfulness / cantering prayer in our church, so I don't have s problem with the concept. I do have a problem with the language of that script in the first paragraph. On its own, it does exclude Christians. The teacher needs to acknowledge that some people do connect with their inner selves through Christ. So before using the tape the teacher should be telling the kids to substitute God or Jesus where it fits, if that's their faith grounding. Why is it a teacher’s responsibility to turn a non-religious practice religious by asking kids to substitute a Christian deity? And why should that teacher be exclusively concerned with the Christian god figures? |
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Post by nightnurse on Dec 17, 2018 18:54:50 GMT
I'm actually going to disagree with everyone. We do mindfulness / cantering prayer in our church, so I don't have s problem with the concept. I do have a problem with the language of that script in the first paragraph. On its own, it does exclude Christians. The teacher needs to acknowledge that some people do connect with their inner selves through Christ. So before using the tape the teacher should be telling the kids to substitute God or Jesus where it fits, if that's their faith grounding. So would you be okay with the teacher saying “please substitute God or Jesus or ra or Buddha or Odin or your deity of choice where appropriate” or only Jesus? |
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Deleted
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May 17, 2024 5:03:28 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2018 19:51:59 GMT
That paragraph doesn't even mention religion, why should god or jesus be brought into it?
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Country Ham
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Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on Dec 17, 2018 19:58:19 GMT
It sounds like the kind of activity that should be elective for students/parents rather then mandatory. Our kids barely get 15 mins to run outside in the fresh air and I would rather mine get fresh air in between classes then meditation to be honest. I would have to spend more time in the relationship between meditation and prayer to have an opinion on the practice. It seems like 15 mins is a lot to take from academics where some classes are only 45 mins for math etc.
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Post by Merge on Dec 17, 2018 20:09:10 GMT
It sounds like the kind of activity that should be elective for students/parents rather then mandatory. Our kids barely get 15 mins to run outside in the fresh air and I would rather mine get fresh air in between classes then meditation to be honest. I would have to spend more time in the relationship between meditation and prayer to have an opinion on the practice. It seems like 15 mins is a lot to take from academics where some classes are only 45 mins for math etc. If 15 minutes of returning to calm through meditation buys me a good, productive 30 minutes of learning, it's time well spent IMO. But I agree that there also needs to be more time spent outside. |
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by ellen on Dec 17, 2018 20:14:59 GMT
I took a class on teaching kids to use mindfulness and it doesn't have to use the kind of script like the one quoted. In my class I teach my kids to use breathing techniques to calm themselves. We keep gratitude journals so that kids can focus on positive things. We talk about taking a pause and choosing a better response when they are reacting to something. We use the mindfulness videos on gonoodle and they are excellent. They aren't religious at all. There is Maximo - a monkey who teaches kids yoga moves, but he doesn't call it yoga or use yoga terms. It's stretching. I opted to gonoodle so that if any parents asked me about what we are doing, they can view all of it. Gonoodle has so many other things in it too - songs, dances, workouts, etc. It's great.
I think it's all pretty necessary. I have a lot of kids who live in stressful households. I find the few minutes I dedicate to it twice a day to be worth it. I am able to get through more teaching material because we have less disruptions. When my students do flip their lid, I know how to help them calm themselves. It's one of those things that even the kids who don't need it benefit from it. There is no downside to doing it. I find that it has helped me deal with a lot of the frustrations of teaching as well.
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Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on Dec 17, 2018 20:26:16 GMT
I think it's all pretty necessary. I have a lot of kids who live in stressful households. I find the few minutes I dedicate to it twice a day to be worth it. I am able to get through more teaching material because we have less disruptions. When my students do flip their lid, I know how to help them calm themselves. It's one of those things that even the kids who don't need it benefit from it. There is no downside to doing it. I find that it has helped me deal with a lot of the frustrations of teaching as well. Are you teaching early elementary where you have the students for all classes for most of the day (except for pullouts like PE?). I can see where working a few minutes of non academic activities can fit in. How do you "justify" it according to standards though? Health? All teacher activities here have to meet some sort of standards.
I have teenagers who are constantly moving from one class room to another. From 7:30 to 8:55 there is time where kids could choose to participate in organized meditation. My kids have various groups that meet for 30 mins during that time frame. Beta club, FBLA, SADD, FCA etc.
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sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
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Post by sassyangel on Dec 17, 2018 20:35:04 GMT
We have mindfulness programs at my company. You can actually take them for wellness heath insurance insurance credits. I’ve found them very helpful. I didn’t find anything remotely Buddhist or even vaguely religious about them.
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,507
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Post by ellen on Dec 17, 2018 20:38:31 GMT
I think it's all pretty necessary. I have a lot of kids who live in stressful households. I find the few minutes I dedicate to it twice a day to be worth it. I am able to get through more teaching material because we have less disruptions. When my students do flip their lid, I know how to help them calm themselves. It's one of those things that even the kids who don't need it benefit from it. There is no downside to doing it. I find that it has helped me deal with a lot of the frustrations of teaching as well. Are you teaching early elementary where you have the students for all classes for most of the day (except for pullouts like PE?). I can see where working a few minutes of non academic activities can fit in. How do you "justify" it according to standards though? Health? All teacher activities here have to meet some sort of standards.
I have teenagers who are constantly moving from one class room to another. From 7:30 to 8:55 there is time where kids could choose to participate in organized meditation. My kids have various groups that meet for 30 mins during that time frame. Beta club, FBLA, SADD, FCA etc.
I have a self contained 4th grade class. I don't have to justify it because my school encourages us to do this. All of this helps prevent behaviors that disrupt class time. Kids are able to focus better. Students are kinder, more understanding. Learning environment is important. |
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lucybelle
Shy Member
Posts: 44
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Post by lucybelle on Dec 17, 2018 21:00:25 GMT
MF'ing science getting in the way of my beliefs. How dare we know it works on a medical level! God forbid we try to offer the cheapest and one of the most effective ways to deal with the basic mental health disorders. My mother’s church did a series of adult Sunday school lessons on ‘Satan’s Strategies Unmasked’. It covered the usual subjects of their disdain-Catholics, LDS, Jehovah’s Witnesses- but also devoted an entire Adult Sunday school lesson to ‘Scientists’. They actually had a printed out lesson book used all over the country by this church. An entire Sunday morning trashing science. They also had a fit over a local yoga studio. I busted out of there when I was 16 and never looked back. |
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Post by flanz on Dec 17, 2018 21:02:14 GMT
I took a class on teaching kids to use mindfulness and it doesn't have to use the kind of script like the one quoted. In my class I teach my kids to use breathing techniques to calm themselves. We keep gratitude journals so that kids can focus on positive things. We talk about taking a pause and choosing a better response when they are reacting to something. We use the mindfulness videos on gonoodle and they are excellent. They aren't religious at all. There is Maximo - a monkey who teaches kids yoga moves, but he doesn't call it yoga or use yoga terms. It's stretching. I opted to gonoodle so that if any parents asked me about what we are doing, they can view all of it. Gonoodle has so many other things in it too - songs, dances, workouts, etc. It's great. I think it's all pretty necessary. I have a lot of kids who live in stressful households. I find the few minutes I dedicate to it twice a day to be worth it. I am able to get through more teaching material because we have less disruptions. When my students do flip their lid, I know how to help them calm themselves. It's one of those things that even the kids who don't need it benefit from it. There is no downside to doing it. I find that it has helped me deal with a lot of the frustrations of teaching as well.
Portion bolded by me, above - I totally agree! Anything we can do to help our kids learn to calm themselves has huge benefits. I'm really grateful to you and other teachers/coaches/authority figures who take the time to help children learn these important life skills! I have no problem at all with the wording in the OP @zingermack. Thanks for this thread. |
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