Educator Dr Stuart Middleton has experienced that the Transcendental Meditation Quiet Time programme has a very valuable contribution to make to school systems, because it is highly effective in improving learning-readiness, school performance, and in enriching students' lives.

Greg Taylor, Government appointee to the Council of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, says that one answer to the stress that students experience is Transcendental Meditation, which has been proven to reduce stress in students.

Educators in New Zealand endorse the TM Quiet Time programme in schools
from the New Zealand "Stress Free Schools" website
5 September 2011

TM Quiet Time is a practical, highly effective programme for raising student performance. It is easy and enjoyable for both students and teachers and can be introduced into any school, public or private, at any level, primary, intermediate, or high school. The programme involves two 10-15 minute periods of “Quiet Time” being scheduled into the school’s daily routine—one when the students first arrive and one just before they leave. During Quiet Time students practice an effortless mental technique called Transcendental Meditation.

Transcendental Meditation (TM) is simply a mental technique that is practised twice each day, sitting with the eyes closed. It is a very easy and natural technique; anyone from the age of 5 and upward can learn it. At school, students sit on their chairs by their desks and meditate. Transcendental Meditation is not a religion and does not require any beliefs.

Kataraina Nock, Principal of a primary intermediate school, Auckland, New Zealand, endorses the programme saying, “Over the time our children have participated in the Quiet Time programme we have noticed the incidence of children needing to take time out because of their inability to cope significantly reduced. Staff and parents report that the school is peaceful and children are happy. We are committed to providing this opportunity for our children.”

Greg Taylor, O.N.Z.M. [Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit], Former Principal of Mount Albert Grammar School, Government appointee to the Council of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, also endorses the programme and says, “Stress in our students can lead to poor academic achievement, apathy, depression, behavioural problems, substance abuse, violence and consequent teacher burnout. These problems are not going away and often educators are criticised unreasonably for the poor performance of students affected by stress.

"One answer lies in Transcendental Meditation which has been proven to reduce stress in students with remarkable improvements in their desire both to learn and to take part in school life.”

Dr Stuart Middleton, O.N.Z.M. [Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit], Ph.D. Director External Relations, MIT, gives a strong endorsement to the TM Quiet Time programme: “At a time when schools are increasingly under pressure and both teachers and students face higher levels of stress, it is appropriate for us to consider alternative approaches to addressing these issues.

"I personally commend the Stress Free Schools organisation and those leading it to you. I know that what they are asking us to consider is valuable and has a very valuable contribution to make to the school system here in New Zealand. It is an additional tool in the educational repertoire. . . . its impact on schools and education is impressive.”

The TM Quiet Time programme works by students effortlessly experiencing refined levels of mental activity; the outcomes being greater "inner wakefulness" and enriched brain functioning. Simultaneously their bodies gain deep, high quality rest that reduces accumulated fatigue and stresses. This state where the mind is very awake, yet the body is very rested, is a unique scientifically-proven phenomenon known as “restful alertness”. Being in this state of restful alertness is hugely beneficial because it brings great clarity to the mind and it unwinds the body of stress and fatigue.

In fact, during this state of restful alertness, research has shown that a whole host of beneficial changes occur in the mind and body.

Dr Guy Hatchard, PhD, Internationally recognised researcher, Former Associate Professor of Management at Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, USA, emphasizes, “Research is making it increasingly clear that fragmentation of brain development is at the heart of problems faced in schools today. It is heartening to review the research on Transcendental Meditation and see that holistic brain development is easily achieved.

"The results are impressive: improved concept development, increased IQ and academic achievement, reduced stress and anxiety, improved behaviour, and increased creativity. The Stress Free Schools programme incorporating Transcendental Meditation has now been used in hundreds of schools with great ease and success.

"These results are urgently needed in New Zealand schools where students’ behaviour and academic attainment is increasingly influenced by high levels of stress and anxiety which the Stress Free Schools approach quickly eliminates.”

© Copyright 2011 Maharishi Foundation Incorporated