Letters to the Editor — June 29, 2023
The Issue: A new requirement for public schools to offer two to five minutes of mindful breathing exercises.
I now understand why New York City students are so far behind (“ ‘Broccoli mayor’: Breathe deep, kids,” June 28).
Schools Chancellor David Banks said: “There’s nothing more important that we can teach our kids than mindfulness and deliberate breathing.” How about reading, writing and math?
They say it won’t cost more because mindful breathing instruction will be rolled in with the Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Preparation Program. What?
But don’t worry, students: When the school system pushes you out the door with a useless diploma, you can get a job at McDonald’s, which is paying $11-$20 an hour now.
And if it upsets you that you have to work, no problem. We’ll make sure you get a government check for the rest of your life. You just can’t use it to buy wood-fired pizza. I know — just breathe (mindfully).
Thomas Walsh
Worcester
The mayor is introducing a new course to students (who show up) — two to five minutes of “mindful breathing.” Oh, boy. That is going to help.
Get rid of the Regents and stop putting unnecessary stress on these students. Actually teach, let them pass the course properly, and make the kids want to learn and feel good about themselves. Then they will be able to breathe easily.
Pat Fitzsimmons
Queens
As a practitioner of mindfulness and as a mental-health professional, I teach mindfulness meditation to my patients.
Unfortunately, mandating something like this to be taught in the schools is just another exercise in Department of Education stupidity.
It takes years of training to be an effective instructor of mindfulness. How will teachers respond to kids who might freak out when they focus on internal sensations?
I am not opposed to helping kids learn effective relaxation strategies, but the DOE can barely teach reading and math skills effectively.
Martin Garfinkle
Staten Island
So now Adams and Banks will require that precious instructional time in city classes be dedicated to breathing instead of books. Makes perfect sense.
We can measure changes in reading skills and related competencies. We can develop goals and metrics of performance. With those metrics, we can insist on accountability.
But accountability is the bane of Adams, his administration, the teachers union and others invested in the “education business.”
If Adams wants to provide “a school experience of the future,” he could work on having students graduate city schools with solid mathematics and English-language proficiencies.
How utterly sad for these children and, ultimately, our country.
J. Mancuso
Naples, Fla.
At a time when the New York City public school system is turning out abysmal results in reading and math, Adams is requiring two to five minutes of breathing lessons in the school day.
Based on the test results and performance, I think the focus should be on improving math and reading outcomes.
Eileen Corr
Brewster, Mass.
Mayor Adams is like a cork in a tub: He goes wherever the waves take him.
To hell with protecting the taxpayers who don’t have security details watching their back. When will he put on his big-boy pants and do his job? “Protect and serve”? He is doing neither.
New Yorkers are at war with criminals and the violent mentally ill, and he’s requiring breathing exercises for kids. Are you kidding me? How about reading, writing and math?
Lee Fleischman
Stamford, Conn.
You can’t make this stuff up. I think Adams should resign immediately and become a physical-education teacher.
Except for the fact that many nights, he is out partying ’til the early morning. So much for getting the eight hours of sleep a night that’s recommended.
The clown show continues.
G. Grammen
Alexandria, Va.
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