1st Edition
Safeguarding Mindfulness in Schools and Higher Education A Holistic and Inclusive Approach
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: ‘Opening Pandora’s Box of Mindfulness in Education’: the case for safeguarding
Chapter 2: ‘Turning the Lens of Mindfulness on Ourselves’: the significant role of the teacher.
Chapter 3: ‘Crossing the Threshold’: attuning ourselves to student vulnerabilities
Chapter 4: ‘Minding the Gap’: attunement to learning environment and activities
Chapter 5: ‘Mindfulness is Actually Right Under our Feet When we are Doing our Best Work’: the contribution of teacher preparation
Chapter 6: Creating Calmer Classrooms in the Primary Years
Chapter 7: Engaging with Mindfulness in the Sensitive Secondary Years
Conclusion
Index
Biography
Leigh Burrows has a wide background in primary, secondary, alternative and higher education teaching and research. She has held advisory roles in special education, well-being and students at risk and is a qualified solution-focused counsellor who is passionate about the transformative potential of a holistic and inclusive approach that is deeply informed by her 30 years of meditation practice. She has published in the areas of relational mindfulness, spirituality, well-being, teacher professional learning, autism, trauma, dyslexia, and parent-teacher relationships. She has developed the Masters in Education topic Mindfulness and the Inner World of Teaching and presents workshops on mindfulness to a wide range of professionals.
This is a sensitive, intelligent, and urgently needed book. Mindfulness exercises are being taught in schools and universities but no one, until now, has dared to confront the potential adverse effects associated with mindfulness in educational settings. There are important lessons to be learned here, particularly for mindfulness teachers and researchers.
Miguel Farias, Director of the Brain, Belief, & Behaviour Lab, Coventry University
Drawing on her extensive research in the field of mindfulness and practical experience in special education and counselling, Dr. Burrows offers an extremely readable and insightful book to assist anyone contemplating sharing mindfulness with children and young adults. The work is invitational, inspiring and something every mindfulness practitioner and researcher needs to have on their bookshelf!
Nicole J. Albrecht, PhD, Wellness Course Coordinator and Lecturer, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
This book is essential reading for all mindfulness teachers whether in clinical, educational or community settings. Rooted in her own and others’ research, and with great insight and compassion, Dr Burrows questions widespread assumptions about the safety of mindfulness practices. Building on this, clear guidance is offered to the teacher on safeguarding the participant through assessment, informed preparation and accessible, appropriate initial practices.
Tim Duerden, Senior Lecturer, School of Health and Society, University of Salford; Director and Trainer, Integrated Mindfulness
A very useful book for all educators to read and use as a valuable resource. Such a complex topic but Leigh breaks it down in a way that makes the messages connect with the reader. We often hear about the value of building the capacity of our staff to deeply understand each student an
