The Californian Encinitas Union School District has decided to spend $800,000 on yoga programs in schools. Yoga programs are funded by grants every year, but this year they were not renewed. Hence, the district took the responsibility of self-financing the program which would cost around $1 million. Many students and parents are not happy with the decision as they feel that the money could help improve science facilities, physical education, and arts.
According to Deborah Sullivan Brennan of The San Diego Union-Tribune, a petition has been raised regarding this issue on change.org, and more than 400 people have already signed the petition. Gregory Robin, a parent of two students in the district, started the petition. He mentions in the petition that his biggest concern is district stealing from his kids’ education.
The school district is offering a twice-a-week yoga instruction program for the past four years and is funded by Encinitas-based Sonima Foundation. Four full-time and two part-time teachers are working under the yoga instruction program. The district’s superintendent, Tim Baird submitted a fact sheet in reply to the concern raised by the parents which show increased attendance, decreased behavior issues, and improved physical health and skills with this wellness education.
Earlier in 2013, some parents filed a lawsuit against the program stating that it was indoctrinating students with Hindu beliefs. But later a superior court dismissed the case concluding that the programs were not religious. But this time the issue is found to be more intense, and a parent said, “when they don’t have the funds, they ask parents to pay for science and arts.” Superintendent Baird said, “Frankly, to throw this program away after all these years of development… doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
News Source: http://www.educationnews.org/k-12-schools/california-school-district-to-spend-800k-on-yoga-program/
