| The third annual National Summit on Student Health | | | | Dr Jones expressed her pride at the level of focus |
| and Education, ''Quiet Time in the Classroom,'' held in | | | | displayed by students at the school-a |
| New York City on 16 October, addressed the pressing | | | | low-performance school that offers 100 per cent free |
| concern of student stress, and featured a presentation | | | | lunch. |
| by Dr. Rochelle Jones, Assistant Principal of Weaver | | | | There was a student, Dr Jones said, who was caught |
| High School, Hartford Connecticut, who was | | | | misbehaving. She was given a choice between |
| instrumental in offering Quiet Time and Transcendental | | | | detention and learning Transcendental Meditation, and |
| Meditation at the school. | | | | she reluctantly chose meditation. ''She saw me in the |
| Dr Jones has been an educator for 34 years. In 2002, | | | | cafeteria the other day, and she came up to me and |
| she received her doctorate in education from Hartford | | | | said, 'Dr Jones, that was the best thing that you ever |
| University, and has served as Vice Principal of | | | | suggested to me.''' |
| Weaver since 2006. | | | | Dr Jones commented that ''you know that it's working |
| Dr Jones said that she was skeptical about the | | | | when you have kids coming back and telling you that |
| Transcendental Meditation technique at first. However, | | | | they appreciate it.'' |
| after doing some research on her own, and receiving | | | | This program, which allows the students to become |
| reassurance from her son-a doctor of clinical | | | | more focused and to release tension, is especially |
| psychology-she decided to learn. | | | | important at Weaver. For many students, she said, |
| She said her students can attest that she doesn't | | | | ''education is not the first thing on their plate-getting to |
| need more energy, but Transcendental Meditation | | | | school through the bullets, dodging bullets is their first |
| gives her even more energy, more focus, and lets her | | | | concern.'' |
| be more direct in dealing with her students-and less | | | | Dr Jones expressed her appreciation for the support |
| stressed. | | | | from the David Lynch Foundation for Stress Free |
| Dr Jones said the school started with a pilot program | | | | Schools for funding the Transcendental Meditation |
| and they were impressed with the results: English | | | | program in the school. ''It has been a blessing,'' she said. |
| scores, math scores, science scores all improved for | | | | In conclusion, Dr Jones reiterated the great benefit that |
| the participating students. They expanded the program, | | | | Transcendental Meditation has brought to the school: |
| and this year for the first time the students improved | | | | improved academic performance, and students who |
| their writing scores. There have also been reductions in | | | | are more focused, more relaxed, more energized, and |
| suspensions and expulsions. | | | | more excited to be in school. |