Stress Free Schools is a New Zealand educational charity formed in 2006. Stress Free Schools offers the scientifically validated Quiet Time programme including Transcendental Meditation. 35 years of experience utilising the Quiet Time programme in schools around the world has shown it to be highly effective. Results include:
- Noticeable improvements in the social atmosphere of the school
- Major declines in violence, bullying, substance abuse and vandalism
- Major reductions in absenteeism
- Significant reduction in behavioural problems and learning difficulties
- Improvements in academic results
Executive Board
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Martin Davy
Executive Director of Stress Free Schools New Zealand, expert in the field of Consciousness Based Education.
“The practice of Transcendental Meditation in schools and universities around the world is changing the way we understand and approach education. The potential of human brain physiology to experience and understand the universe is unlimited. Transcendental Meditation as a technique develops the full mental potential of the individual allowing them to enjoy success in any undertaking. Extensive research shows this leads to a peaceful healthy individual and a peaceful healthy society.”
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Gray Treadwell
Teacher of the Transcendental Meditation Programme since 1975. He is an Economics graduate and has been a founder and director of several successful New Zealand technology export companies. He also provides business analysis of Intellectual Property and legal matters.
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John Hodgson
Papatoetoe orthodontist in private practice and wind surfing enthusiast who, along with his family, has enjoyed the benefits of Transcendental Meditation in daily life for 35 years. He is passionate about introducing Transcendental Meditation into the daily programme at schools to create stress free, happy, fulfilled students.
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Marianne MacPherson
Kindergarten Head Teacher in Auckland for the past 15 years and a teacher of Transcendental Meditation. She values Stress Free School’s whole school approach supporting not only student learning and well-being but also improving teacher well-being.
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Lucy Davy, MSc,Hon. EnvSc
Lucy has been a driving force behind Stress Free Schools in New Zealand. In 2009 she managed the implementation of the first Transcendental Meditation Quiet Time programme in the country at a South Auckland school. Lucy learnt to meditate when she was 5 years old.
Board of Advisors
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Dr Stuart Middleton, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Manukau Institute of Technology, Former Principal of Aorere College Manukau, Fulbright New Century Scholars Award 2007
“At a time when schools are increasingly under pressure and both teachers and students face higher levels of stress, it is appropriate for us to consider alternative approaches to addressing these issues. I personally commend the Stress Free Schools organisation and those leading it to you. I know that what they are asking us to consider is valuable and has a very valuable contribution to make to the school system here in New Zealand. It is an additional tool in the educational repertoire. While there are various attitudes and responses towards Transcendental Meditation in the community generally, its impact on schools and education is impressive.”
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Greg Taylor, O.N.Z.M
Former Principal of Mount Albert Grammar School, Government appointee to the Council of the University of Auckland
“Stress in our students can lead to poor academic achievement, apathy, depression, behavioural problems, substance abuse, violence and consequent teacher burnout. These problems are not going away and often educators are criticised unreasonably for the poor performance of students affected by stress. One answer lies in Transcendental Meditation which has been proven to reduce stress in students with remarkable improvements in their desire both to learn and to take part in school life.”
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PROFESSOR JOHN CLEARY, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science, University of Waikato - Chief Scientific Officer, Netvalue Ltd. Professor Cleary has had a thirty year career researching and teaching Computer Science in New Zealand, Canada and USA. He has co-founded and worked in three venture capital funded software companies in Canada, USA and now in New Zealand. He has published numerous scientific papers, particularly in the areas of data compression and machine learning. He currently researches software engineering techniques
“Clarity and freshness of spirit is the most precious thing that a student can bring to learning. Transcendental Meditation is a practical way of uplifting all aspects of students’ performance by giving them the clarity they need to succeed in education. We owe it to all students in New Zealand to give them access to this technique.”
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Dr GUY HATCHARD, Ph.D.
Internationally recognised researcher, Former Associate Professor of Management at Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, USA
“Research is making it increasingly clear that fragmentation of brain development is at the heart of problems faced in schools today. It is heartening to review the research on Transcendental Meditation and see that holistic brain development is easily achieved. The results are impressive: improved concept development, increased IQ and academic achievement, reduced stress and anxiety, improved behaviour, and increased creativity. The Stress Free Schools programme incorporating Transcendental Meditation has now been used in hundreds of schools with great ease and success. These results are urgently needed in New Zealand schools where students’ behaviour and academic attainment is increasingly influenced by high levels of stress and anxiety which the Stress Free Schools approach quickly eliminates.”
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Dr DAVID LOVELL-SMITH
Christchurch medical practitioner in general practice. Author of Perfect Blood Pressure, Naturally (Penguin 2001). Dr Lovell-Smith recently completed a Ph.D. through the Auckland University School of Medicine in the field of food intake regulation
“Transcendental Meditation is the single most important educational development we are likely to see in our life-times.”