In 2010, the David Lynch Foundation through its partner, the Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education, began support for the Quiet Time Program at San Francisco's Philip & Sala Burton Academic High School. Quiet Time is a high-impact stress reduction program that uses meditation. Since starting Quiet Time, Burton has seen a 75% reduction in suspensions, increased test scores, and better attendance. Your support will help teach new students this valuable tool.
The student population at Burton comes from a wide spectrum of cultures and backgrounds. One in three students has only limited English language proficiency, one in ten has a diagnosed disability, and 71% live below the national poverty level. Many Burton students must cope with high amounts of stress from difficult homes and neighborhoods before ever reaching school. Burton serves as a safe haven for the student body, providing a nurturing school culture committed to academic achievement.
Support for this program will expand and maintain the Quiet Time Program, which currently provides Transcendental Meditation (TM) to the entire Burton 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.
Since the start of the Quiet Time Program at Burton, the school has noticed a 75% reduction in suspensions, and significant increases in school-wide standardized test scores, grade point averages, and attendance. Controlled research also showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression and significant improvements in resilience and sleep for meditating Burton students.
