VOA教育报道2024--More US Schools Are Taking Breaks for Meditation

A class of third-grade students in the American state of Georgia had just a few days left until summer vacation would begin. And lunchtime was only an hour away.

But the children, who attend Roberta T. Smith Elementary School in the city of Rex, were in no hurry to leave. They were ready for one of their favorite parts of the day.

The children closed their eyes and moved their thumbs from their foreheads down to their hearts. "Listen to the chimes," said the teacher, Kim Franklin. "Remember to breathe."

Across the country, schools like Smith Elementary have been introducing mental health sessions that include yoga, meditation¹ and mindfulness exercises. Students do these exercises in addition to traditional math, reading and science classes.

Mindfulness alongside² math

More American students have faced mental health struggles following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than one-third of students were affected³ by feelings of long-term sadness and hopelessness. The agency suggested schools use mindfulness practices to help students deal with their stress and emotions.

"We know that our teenagers and adolescents have really strained in their mental health," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told The Associated Press. "There are real skills that we can give our teens to make sure that they are coping with some big emotions."

Poor communities need more help

Research has found that school-based mindfulness programs can help, especially in poor communities where students face higher levels of stress.

GreenLight Fund Atlanta helps school systems in the state of Georgia pay for a mindfulness program called Inner Explorer. That is the program used at Smith Elementary, where more than two-thirds of students are Black.

Joli Cooper is GreenLight Fund Atlanta's executive⁴ director. Cooper said it was important to the group to support communities of color in the area.

"When you look at the numbers, unfortunately, in Georgia, the number of children of color with suicidal thoughts and success is quite high," Cooper said. "When you look at the number of psychologists available for these children, there are not enough psychologists of color."

Information from the CDC shows that Black youth have the fastest-growing suicide⁵ rate among racial groups. Between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black children and teens between the ages of 10 to 17 increased by 144 percent.

Nationwide, children in schools that serve mostly students of color have less access to mental health professionals than children in schools that serve mostly white students.

The Inner Explorer program guides students and teachers through five-to-10-minute sessions of breathing, meditation and reflection several times a day. The program is used at over 100 school systems across the U.S.

Teachers and administrators⁶ say they have noticed a difference in their students since they've added mindfulness into their daily activities.

Nine-year-old Aniyah Woods is a student in Kim Franklin's class at Smith Elementary. Aniyah said the program has helped her "calm down" and "not stress anymore." She added, "It made me feel peaceful."

Malachi Smith, also 9, has used his exercises at home. His father helps guide him through meditation.

"You can relax... and when I calm myself down, I realize I am an excellent scholar," Malachi said.

Words in This Story

chime - n. sound made by a set of bells

adolescent - n. young person

strain - v. to injure by too much tension

psychologist - n. a scientist who specializes in the study and treatment of the mind and behavior

reflection - n. careful thought about something

scholar - n. an intelligent and well-educated person

1 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

2 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

5 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

6 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城