Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The World Is Our Family

At Maharishi School, we believe that the World is Our Family. We are committed to equity, inclusion, and the recognition and honoring of diversity, in and out of the classroom, through the systematic development of human potential through the Transcendental Meditation technique and an integrated application of Consciousness-based principles, social-emotional learning, and evidence-based strategies from the field of Diversity-Equity-Inclusion research.

The Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Committee will monitor the school’s progress toward achieving this mission through four core aspects of school life:

Quantitative and qualitative research with students, parents, teachers/staff to determine the school’s culture and DEI needs.

Ensure that all students are exposed to and develop interest and empathy toward various forms of diversity: gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, learning differences, physical ability, socioeconomic status, religion, and viewpoints.

DEI training for students and Professional Development for faculty and staff’ 
Implement explicit instruction in DEI-specific knowledge and skills in academic classes (especially the Consciousness, Connections, and Life Skills course), assemblies, and projects, e.g.:

  • Anti-bias, anti-racism
  • Growth mindset and cultural humility
  • Implicit and explicit bias
  • Gender diversity
  • Social-emotional learning: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, personal relationships, creative problem-solving
  • Restorative justice, Positive Discipline
  • Personal and group counseling

Encourage and support DEI parent education and interaction: in grade-level meetings, book clubs, workshops, and service projects.

Research and monitor the school’s diversity demographics, personnel practices, disciplinary policies, assessment strategies, and resource allocation to ensure that DEI objectives and priorities are consciously applied.

CONSCIOUSNESS-BASED PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
The principles and practices of Consciousness-Based Education provide unique advantages to Maharishi School in pursuing its DEI mission and goals.

Listed below are four key CBE components that complement the DEI approaches cited above:

The mission of Maharishi School is to create an innovative Consciousness-Based educational environment where students think deeply and become creative, compassionate, contributing citizens of the world.

This mission is mirrored in our motto: The World Is Our Family. These guiding ideals help cultivate a culture of empathy, an appreciation of others, and service to society.

Our Core Values

These five qualities provide bedrock standards of and guides for daily behavior, irrespective of the situation. When applied to DEI initiatives, they demonstrate what we hold as important in life; they can and should be universally applied: 

  • Respect
  • Responsibility
  • Solutions
  • Service
  • Transcendence

CBE and Maharishi Vedic Science curriculum 
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi formulated curricula and authored books that embody life wisdom, depth of insight, and universal connections. This includes the 16 Life Principles, 16 Fundamentals, 50 Qualities, and 16 Values of Creative Intelligence. Each of these provides connections both horizontally across different aspects of life and vertically: surface to subtle to transcendental. 

Each Life Principle, for example, represents a profound understanding of the structure or function of our world, and can illuminate underlying insights in DEI topics, e.g.: 

  • The nature of life is to grow
  • Life is found in layers.
  • Outer depends on inner.
  • Knowledge is gained from inside and outside. 
  • Harmony exists in diversity.

Maharishi also equipped us with experiential techniques for the development of consciousness, expanding both the depth of one’s self-understanding and breadth of awareness of others. The many documented benefits of these practices directly contribute to the attainment of DEI mission and goals: increased intelligence, reduced anxiety, improved creativity, enhanced health, and the reduction of social stress when practiced in groups.

COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND NORMS
These statements summarize our aspirations and commitments toward specific DEI standards:

We explore and celebrate the many positive experiences and viewpoints that diversity in all its forms brings to our school community, including but not limited to, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status, physical ability, learning style, and religious diversity.

We place the safety and well-being of students foremost in policy and action, including those community members who may need additional support due to disability, race, religion, gender expression, sexuality, or other minority status.

We promote a culture of dignity, equity, and respect for all members of the school community that does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, threats, or bullying.

We remember that each member of the school community has their own unique, lived experience. We listen to understand, and to learn.