January 1, NYC Mayor’s “Mindful Breathing” Rule Ignores Larger School Crisis

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing considerable backlash following his controversial move to mandate “mindful breathing” exercises in public schools, amidst escalating concerns of chronic absenteeism and plummeting grades.

Adams recently declared that beginning this fall, all students – from kindergarteners to high school seniors – will engage in two to five minutes of “mindful breathing” each day, aimed at combating stress.

During a press conference, Adams lauded the breathing exercises as a “game changer,” citing the “science of breathing.”

This policy has attracted criticism from many who feel the Mayor’s focus is misdirected, given the current academic crisis plaguing the city’s public schools.

In a New York Post op-ed, Tim Hoefer, President and CEO of the Empire Center for Public Policy, urged Adams to address the real issues at hand, “our children are not being taught how to read, if they’re even showing up to class at all,” he penned.

“Kids learn to breathe whether they’re in a classroom or not. Math and literacy are not so instinctual. Let’s focus on the fundamentals and get butts back into seats,” Hoefer added, underlining the need to prioritize core academic subjects and regular school attendance.

Echoing Hoefer’s sentiment, former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, dubbed Adams’ rule as a “pet project.”

She expressed skepticism on Fox News about whether mindful breathing exercises would be a panacea for the burgeoning issue of school violence.

“I somehow made it through many academic institutions without learning about breathing. I just think this is ridiculous,” McEnany asserted.

“If you think the violence in our schools is going to be stopped from breathing, good luck, Mayor Adams.”

While some acknowledge the potential benefits of “mindful breathing,” they question Adams’ decision to cut $5 million from a separate mental health initiative in high schools.

Dawn Yuster, director of the School Justice Project at Advocates for Children, emphasized, “That’s certainly not a replacement for other really critical programs and services that are at risk of being discontinued.”

Bottom Line

Adams’ contentious announcement coincides with concerning national data showing a severe dip in math and reading scores, the worst in decades, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Amidst ongoing pandemic restrictions, learning loss, and controversial curriculum content, public schools nationwide are experiencing a significant exodus of students.

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