As education systems look for innovative ways to prepare students for the future, finding effective methods for character and career development has become a top priority. In South Korea, ahead of the nationwide expansion of the “free semester system” in middle schools, mind subtraction meditation is drawing significant attention for its proven effectiveness in the classroom.
A report by the Electronic Times highlighted the remarkable success of a meditation class implemented at Daesan Middle School in South Chungcheong Province, showing that real change in students’ character and academic focus is truly possible.
π« The Daesan Middle School Trial
The free semester system encourages self-directed, creative learning through discussions, games, and experiential activities rather than traditional rote memorization. To support this framework, Daesan Middle School launched a trial meditation class in the second semester of 2015.
Titled ‘Happy Meditation: Mind Subtraction’, the class was immensely popular, with 35 out of all 55 first-year students applying to participate. After 17 hours of classes held once a week, the school reported outstanding outcomes in the students’ behaviors and daily habits.
π¬ Real Changes: What Students and Parents Said
The results of the program extended far beyond the classroom walls, profoundly impacting the students’ personal lives and family dynamics.
Feedback from Students:
- “My relationships with friends improved.”
- “I became more patient.”
- “I can memorize things better, and I study on my own at home.”
- “My mind feels lighter and refreshed, and my attitude in class improved.”
Feedback from Parents: Parents also provided glowing evaluations, noting that their children’s annoyance, anger, and swearing noticeably decreased, while their concentration and patience significantly increased.
π Scientific Proof of Character Growth
The meditation class was organized by the Society of Human Completion Education and led by a professional meditation instructor holding secondary school teaching credentials, alongside a local Ma-eum Su-ryun center instructor.
To analyze the program’s efficacy, Professor Yoon Mi-ra of the Department of Nursing at Chung-Ang University surveyed the students before and after the classes using the KEDI (Korean Educational Development Institute) Character Assessment tool.
The analysis revealed improved scores across all five core character virtue domains:
- Self-respect
- Consideration and communication
- Social responsibility
- Self-regulation
- Honesty and courage
Professor Yoon noted that the domains of ‘social responsibility’, ‘honesty and courage’, and class concentration showed statistically significant improvements. She emphasized, “This suggests that the mind subtraction meditation class is a school program capable of producing simultaneous effects in both character education and academic achievement.”
π A Brighter Future for Education
Daesan Middle School is not alone in this endeavor. The Society of Human Completion Education, in cooperation with the Ma-eum Su-ryun Teachers’ Group, successfully operated various forms of meditation programs at 47 elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide in the previous year alone.
As schools look for alternative approaches to help students navigate stress and build positive character traits, mind subtraction meditation is proving to be an essential tool in shaping the minds of the next generation.
π° About the Article
- Publication: Electronic Times
- Article Title: Mind Subtraction Meditation Class, A Highly Anticipated Addition for the Expansion of the Free Semester System
- Published: February 2, 2016
