Source: The Boston Globe, November 9, 2000
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Schools faced with stressed-out children are introducing relaxation breaks using positive mental imagery (best for girls), or deep breathing or muscle relaxing (works on boys). Other methods include repeating a line from a favorite song, carrying a good-luck charm, have a buddy to turn to in times of stress. “It used to be,” one educator told the Globe, “that the worst emergency teachers faced was the lights going out. Now many schools have a police presence, and all teachers are under pressure for students to perform on standardized tests. Kids are coming to school with more baggage than I’ve seen in 30 years of teaching.” Books on stress-reduction methods are available from http://www.mindbody.harvard.edu.