The School Program Teaching Kids to Love Themselves

Emily Johnson · 2026-09-09

### A Different Kind of Class What if the most important thing we taught kids wasn't math or science — but how to meet themselves with kindness? That's the big idea behind Peace in Schools, a nonprofit that brings mindfulness training into regular school curriculum. I recently sat down with Executive Director Janice Martellucci to talk about it, and honestly, the conversation stayed with me. ### What Mindfulness in Schools Actually Looks Like This isn't a one-off assembly or a poster on the wall. Peace in Schools builds intentional, evidence-based mindfulness courses into the school day — the same way you'd schedule algebra or gym. Students learn practical skills they can use in real time: - Noticing what's happening in their bodies before stress takes over - Naming emotions instead of being run by them - Breathing through conflict rather than reacting - Building focus that carries into classwork and relationships Janice put it simply: the goal isn't to fix kids. It's to equip them to meet and love themselves. That line stopped me. Because so many of us spent years learning the opposite — that our worth depended on grades, performance, or approval. ### The Ripple Effect Beyond the Classroom When students learn to pause, everything shifts. Teachers report calmer rooms. Kids report feeling less alone. And parents often start asking questions about their own habits. > "We're not teaching kids to be quiet," Janice told me. "We're teaching them to be present." There's a difference, and it matters. Presence is something you can carry for life. ### Why This Belongs in Every School We spend a lot of energy helping kids perform. Far less helping them feel whole. Mindfulness training bridges that gap — not as a luxury, but as a basic life skill. If you work with young people, here's a gentle invitation: start small. Five minutes of breathing. One honest check-in. The results might surprise you. Because wholeness isn't something we need to earn. It's something we uncover.