Maharishi School Begins for a Safe School Year

What is the main thing that parents ask schools provide for children?

• Academic knowledge?
• Excellent, well-rounded programs?
• Both inner and outer development?

As a Consciousness-Based Education school, Maharishi School begins with an edge regarding safety by practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, which lowers stress, increases harmonious relationships, and improves health, as scientific research indicates.

This "from inside to outside" program provides an underlying stability for the school, but it is not enough. Every school needs a plan or procedures for what to do if an emergency arises. Whether the emergency be one from nature or from an individual, schools have to be prepared.

Imagine a fire burning out of control across a river. The water is a huge protective barrier, protecting the land and people from the fire across the way. But a possibility exists, even if slight, that a spark might make its way across the water. A wise town would prepare a plan for such a situation, even if the chance were only slight.

Schools throughout the U.S. are reviewing policies and procedures at this time in order to ensure that in the event of an extreme situation, all are prepared to keep children safe.

Maharishi School is no different. Last week it reviewed with its staff its emergency plan--what to do in various situations. Entering my 33rd year of teaching, I am proud of the professionalism of the school in its development and initiation of emergency procedures.

We can never plan for each and every possibility. The possibilities are just too many, too complex--we could even say unfathomable. However, we can do our best to make sensible arrangements in advance that can be initiated in unusual circumstances.

• "Safety first."
• "Be prepared."
• "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
• "Well begun is half done."

 Safety is important for learning. How can we learn if we are worried about something? Fear closes doors instead of opening them. I'm glad that my school is behind school safety 200%--safety from inside out and from outside in.

I wish all students and all schools a safe and successful school year.

Copyright 2011 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved