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December 30, 2005
Namaste
That's the name of a unique elementary charter school in Chicago, IL. What sets this school apart isn't it's curriculum, but it's focus on each student's health, physical and mental well-being thru the teachings of yoga.
Most schools start with the ring of a bell - students tussling down hallways to get to class. At Namaste, participants start by putting their hands together, bowing their heads and saying the school's name pronounced "namastay". It means "my inner light salutes your inner light".
The charter school opened its doors last fall to 90 kindergartners and first graders anxious to learn in an environment much different from your typical public school. Here, physical education has not been cut and in fact, has been expanded to include not only play, but also breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation.
The philosophy is that children do better when they eat well and move around. Recent studies have proven that kids perform better in the classrooms when they're active and eat nutritious foods. You won't find chips, pizza, or tator-tots here.
Namaste students do the same academic work other children do but who says learning requires you to sit still. When learning the alphabet, students not only say the letter but they move their bodies to look like the letters as well.
Aside from the academic and physical education, reports are coming in that students have taken what they've learned and applied it to everyday life. It is not uncommon to hear Namaste parents claim their children actually reject junk food in preference for an apple or orange. Other instances are parents catching their children going to a quiet corner, breathing and stretching when upset.
The results are in the test scores. Namaste students scored nearly 80% higher than the state average. Obesity (which is running rampant now among young children) is nonexistent, and breakouts of fighting and arguing seem only to exist in the newspapers the children read. In fact, the school is so successful, there is a waiting list.
It goes to show that education is really key to growing kids and their development into successful adults. I just hope more schools like this start popping up around the country.
Posted by tranism at 11:27 PM | Permalink