Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

consciousness-based education and governmentImpact of Increased Graduation Rates on SocietyBelfield and Levin (2007) emphasize the need for American highschools to begin to incorporate more effective school intervention programs.By raising graduation rates, the beneficial impact for societycould be substantial, with the continued high dropout rate having amarked negative effect on the whole economy (Rouse, 2007).As mentioned above, high school dropouts compared to graduateshave a lower earning potential and therefore pay less taxes, need moregovernment housing, food and other assistance, commit more crimeand have higher rates of incarceration, and have greater levels of physicaland mental health problems (Belfield and Levin, 2007). Therefore,increasing the number of high school graduates in our nation’s schoolsprovides one of the best potential cost-benefits for society.Using the cost-benefit formula described by Belfield and Levin(2007), a 15% difference in graduation rates (found in the above study),yields a net value of about $170,000 per additional graduating studentover the lifetime of each student. This means that for every 100 studentswho learn the Transcendental Meditation program as part of aschoolwide Quiet Time program, the resulting benefit to society is over$2 million. This value of the Transcendental Meditation program comparesvery favorably with other successful school effectiveness programs312