Rogers, RayWeisbaum, Eleanor2015-09-152015-09-152014Major Portfolio, Master of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York Universityhttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/30264Through interviews with international experts, along with a literature review, this paper explores some of the current issues that exist within the education system regarding teacher and student well-being, as well as some of the historical and cultural antecedents that have caused these issues to manifest. It also examines recent scientific research, which reflects concerns around the impact of stress on students. One recent study shows that repeated stress negatively impacts the brain's ability to learn. Through field research and case studies, the use of mindfulness and meditation as a resource to provide tools and activities to counteract these issues will be explored. Two years of field research, working directly with Buddhist monastics in the tradition of international scholar, activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, provides unique insight into the practical implementation of mindfulness in a classroom setting. The field research is summarized into two case studies. The first examines the responses of educators to a four day mindfulness conference, and the second analyzes feedback from high-school students in New-Delhi, India who participated in a three day in-school mindfulness workshop. The results of both case studies reveal an over-all positive response from both groups of participants, with feedback showing an increase in well-being and a decrease in stress and anxiety. Because of its status as an emerging field, it is clear that further research is needed to define more fully the effects of mindfulness as an intervention tool within the classroom. Further in-depth research in this field is imperative, so that academic and public institutions can utilize it effectively. It is also important to recognize the inherentlyexperiential qualities of mindfulness. While there is further work to be done academicallyto understand the full physiological and psychological impacts of mindfulness, as a field researcher I clearly observed the positive and transformative impact of mindfulness in a classroom setting, on both teachers and students. Keywords Mindfulness, Meditation, Edu ation, Students, Teachers, Well-being, Curriculum, Buddhism, Contemplative-StudyenAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.Major Portfolio