Mindfulness is becoming more popular in schools as a way to help kids deal with stress and better manage their emotions. It also boosts focus, attention, and memory. Some schools that have introduced mindfulness practices have seen a significant drop in detention rates, with some even reporting no detentions at all.
At Robert W. Coleman Elementary in Baltimore, detention has been replaced with meditation, yielding impressive results. Ali Smith, the founder of the Holistic Life Foundation, shared insights about the program on the daytime talk show, The Doctors.
A segment from CBS This Morning explores how the mindfulness initiative is being implemented in the school. Over 300 students take part in a 15-minute “mindful moment” twice a day, focusing on their breathing. This program is especially notable since it is being conducted in a neighborhood where children face trauma from violence and widespread drug-dealing. Ali and his brother Ahmed, who are both from the area, aimed to create positive social change.
By the time the second video was released, the program had expanded to 14 schools in the area, benefiting approximately 4,000 children.