Bringing mindfulness to the school curriculum

More and more kids across Canada are learning meditation techniques. Not everyone thinks it’s a good use of time.

Aliza Naqvi, a 14-year-old student at Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute in Toronto, carries a key chain strung with seven coloured beads. When she’s feeling stressed or anxious, she can pull it out as a reminder: The first bead, which is blue, stands for “breathe.” The second, red, cues her to reflect on her thoughts; yellow is to consider her emotions, and so on. “At any school, there’s a lot of stress involved,” Naqvi says. “The expectations are really high.”

MACLEANS-MEDITATION-05.23.14-TORONTO, ON: Grade 3 students at the Dewson Street Junior Public School attend a meditation class called "Area 33." The class is run by Phys-Ed teacher Mary-Ann Kowal in an effort to promote relaxation and self reflection in a world where children are often over-managed and being told what to do on a constant basis. Photograph by Cole Garside — Grade 3 students at the Dewson Street Junior Public School attend a meditation class called “Area 33.” The class is run by Phys-Ed teacher Mary-Ann Kowal in an effort to promote relaxation and self reflection in a world where children are often over-managed and being told what to do on a constant basis. Photograph by Cole Garside

This year, Bethune, which is part of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), introduced lessons in mindfulness—a type of meditation that encourages awareness of the present moment, in a non-judgmental way—to all of its 200 Grade 9 students, including Naqvi.