Baltimore Students Learn to Solve Conflicts Peacefully Through Meditation

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Across the country and right here in Baltimore teachers are trading in detention for meditation.

Everyday 300 students at Robert Coleman Elementary School take time to practice the Mindful Moments program.

Twice a day they learn to breath, stretch and block out distractions.

"They actually taught the students how to redirect the negative energy into something positive," said Carlillian Thompson, principal at Robert Coleman Elementary School.

And when students misbehave they aren't sent to the principal's office they head to the "mindful me" room where they learn to solve conflicts peacefully.

Since using this program the school has seen a huge improvement in the students resulting in zero suspensions.

Brothers Ali and Altman Smith co-founded the program.

"There's violence going on in the neighborhood, there's drug abuse in the neighborhood, so there's just all these things getting dumped on these kids and they need a way to deal with it," said Ali Smith.

Raised in Baltimore, they wanted to give back to their community and give them something they could take beyond the mat.

"Teaching kids at a young age to really try and make a change in our community, as far as how conflicts are resolved," said Altman Smith.

Fourteen Baltimore City schools currently practice this Mindful Moments program.

For more information on the program, CLICK HERE.