Response to Article: “How mindfulness practices are changing an inner-city school”

Whirligig is about human beings who struggle for acceptance, understanding, peace, belonging, and love. Everyone wants a good life. The stories of Brent Bishop and the book's four other protagonists remind us that life can be stressful and complex; that the pressures of school, work, and family can be challenging to manage; that everyone needs help coping with difficult thoughts and feelings sometimes; and that connecting and communicating with ourselves, with other people, and with the natural world is very important for us to feel healthy and strong. Through his journey in Whirligig, Brent gradually becomes more mindful of himself, other people, and the world in the course of his travels. One might say that Brent Bishop learns to slow down and to pay closer attention to his thoughts, his feelings, and the world around him.  

 

Let's connect Brent's gradual changes in Whirligig to a trend that seems to be growing in education today: the teaching of mindfulness practices. When people practice mindfulness, they simply focus their attention on becoming aware of emotions, staying in the present, and using meditative breathing to reduce stress. The news article “How mindfulness practices are changing an inner-city school” describes specific ways in which a school district is trying to teach its students much of what Brent learns in the course of his journey. Through the program described in the article, these schools are trying to provide young students with practices designed to help them feel better, be healthier, and manage the stresses of their lives more effectively.

Writing Prompt:

Do you think that it would be a good idea for Carmel High School to institute a similar program teaching mindfulness practices—a program tailored specifically to the needs of high school students? Why?

Please answer this question in a detailed paragraph.

    • Begin with a clear claim stating your opinion on the issue.
    • Smoothly incorporate two quotations from the article to support your opinion, and explain your reasoning clearly.
Last modified: Monday, November 21, 2016, 9:15 PM