--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "raunchydog" <raunchy...@...> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > As for the program itself, I wish it well. I really > > do think that kids would benefit from learning a > > simple form of meditation while still kids. That the > > form of meditation being proposed is TM I think is > > problematic because I honestly believe that the way > > it's taught and explained in followup talks is > > religously-based and thus inappropriate for American > > schools given the Constitution and the clear wishes > > of America's founding fathers. But the courts will > > decide that. > > What other form of meditation would you propose? No other organization is > more capable, willing or funded enough to tackle a project of the magnitude > proposed by the TMO. No one else has ever come forward with the resources or > a plan to teach as many kids ANY meditation technique. > > The TMO is well aware of the legal pitfalls to teaching TM in public schools, > been there done that, and they have probably prepared for it. It's possible > someone will challenge TM in the schools, and it's also possible the courts > will rule that TM is not a religion and O.K. to teach in schools. By the time > such a case winds its way through the court, perhaps thousands of kids will > have learned TM. > > The concept of charter schools is on the rise. The Obama administration is > eager to implement innovative programs that help kids learn in such schools. > Charter schools as well as public schools could become a proving ground for > the effectiveness of TM. Either way my bet is that once TM gets rolling, and > kids are doing well with it, no one will want to stop it. >
Technically charter schools (at least in AZ) are still public schools, but (again in AZ) they are beholden only to the state and not local, school boards, so they have a LOT more leeway in what they can do. Each charter school is basically a local school district in its own right, governed directly by the participants so the local community can't dictate what is or isn't taught to those kids. A mixed bag, to be sure. L
