Changing Minds at Concord High School

Filmmaker Susan Weiser-Finley's intriguing documentary follows the progress of a semester-long research experiment at Concord High School in Massachusetts, a transfer school for at-risk kids who are given one last-chance opportunity to complete high school despite past problems with psychological issues, anger management, discipline, and more. Created by Harvard University and Hunter College, but implemented at Concord by Hunter's faculty and student research assistants, the experiment revolves around teaching meditation skills to students to help calm the mind and improve performance. Although the kids are extremely reluctant to even try—wary of change or being blamed for failure—they listen as teachers explain that meditation can create new neural pathways in the brain that literally “rewire” a restless mind. Initial attempts result in the usual problems that most people face with the process (distraction, an inability to quiet one's thoughts, etc.), but after several weeks of encouragement and practice, the benefits become obvious. Several interviewed students here claim to have got a lot out of this life-changing experience. An interesting film exploring the intersection of education and mindfulness, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)