If you have fond memories of your elementary public school, consider yourself either among the rare few or possibly misremembering your experiences. Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in The Wall” might serve as a reminder of what school used to be like: sitting at a desk, following orders from a teacher who was as bored as you, both desperately waiting for the brief recess between classes. Unfortunately, the situation has only worsened.
School children today face significant challenges just to make it through their school years. While they may not be dying, the prevalence of chronic diseases and mental conditions among children has skyrocketed over the past few decades due to overworking and a lack of interest in the content and methodology of classes. We now see an alarming increase in conditions such as ADHD, child sleep apnea, and ODD.
Fortunately, a few forward-thinking countries like Iceland have taken radical steps to change their school systems. For the rest of us, change may be slow, but it’s not ineffective. Many schools have started incorporating meditation into their daily routines, while others have embraced the idea of giving children more time to be children – to run, play, and enjoy themselves without the constant pressure to learn. This approach has been adopted by numerous schools in Texas, which have tripled the duration of recess.
The results of these changes have been astounding. Schools have reported that students are now more focused and receptive to new knowledge after having spent their excess energy during recess. This shift has led to a significant decrease in ADHD cases, indicating that the current system is indeed in need of change. Let’s explore the transformative power of recess and meditation in our schools and how they contribute to healthier, more engaged students.
