Since 2007, the David Lynch Foundation has partnered with San Francisco's Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS). Only 10 years ago, VVMS was known as "the fight school" with gang violence from the community spilling into the school. In Spring 2007, the 1st semester students began meditating in school, suspensions decreased by 45%. By 2011, suspensions decreased 86%. Your support will help us maintain programming and teach new students this valuable tool for self-regulation and personal growth.
The student population at VVMS comes from a wide spectrum of cultures and backgrounds. One in four VVMS students has only limited English language proficiency, one in five has a diagnosed disability, and 86% live below the national poverty level. Many VVMS Students must cope with high amounts of stress from difficult homes and neighborhoods before ever reaching school. VVMS serves as a safe haven for the student body, providing TM, emotional support and excellent after school programs.
The David Lynch Foundation will expand and sustain the Quiet Time Program, which currently provides Transcendental Meditation (TM) to the entire VVMS student body. TM gives students a practical tool that empowers them to release stress and, at the same time, enliven their creativity and learning readiness. TM also helps alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety that can often trigger numerous health, emotional and cognitive issues.
Research conducted at several San Francisco schools, including VVMS, indicates that the Quiet Time Program is of significant value for students. Key findings include: significant improvement on standardized tests, 40% reduction in symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, and 86% decrease in suspension rates over four years. Meditating students also score higher on intelligence tests and exhibit higher graduation rates as compared to non-meditating students.
