Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment
Encyclopedia
Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment (MSAE or Maharishi School) is an independent, non-denominational, college preparatory school located in Fairfield, Iowa
, USA.The school was founded in 1974, received state accreditation in 1986 and began single-gender classes in 1989. It is located on a 10 acre campus within the main campus of the Maharishi University of Management
.
The school has an open admissions policy and its curriculum includes the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique
. Its curriculum includes traditional academic subjects as well as the Science of Creative Intelligence. The school and its students have received numerous awards in state, national and international competitions for science, the arts, creativity and athletics.
In 1986, the school received accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. In 1987, grades K-6 also received accreditation from the Iowa Department of Education
. Grades 7-12 then received accreditation in 1987 from the Iowa Department of Education as a college preparatory school due to the high percentage of graduates being accepted at four-year colleges and universities.
In 1989, the school began to offer single-gender classes whenever class enrollment was sufficient. In 2003, MSAE split into three schools with gender divisions that included the Boys‚ Middle and Upper School, the Girls‚ Middle and Upper School and the Lower School, grades K-6.
In 1996, after eight years of single-gender classes, MSAE and two Iowa school districts were advised to “discontinue gender-segregated classes”. MSAE school officials rejected the state Department of Education’s order. The issue came under the review of the Iowa Attorney General who sent a letter warning MSAE of a violation of Title IX
and of state civil rights laws. Despite possible loss of public accreditation and state tax money for textbooks and local services, the school decided to continue single-gender classes the following school year. The school's website indicates that they are maintaining their single-gender classroom format and accreditation by the Iowa State Board of Education.
The school received a visit from talk show host Oprah Winfrey
in October 2011.
is the Executive Director, Bevan Morris
is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Richard Beall is Head of School.
The Maharishi School's buildings are constructed according to the design principles of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
architecture. The main, three-story building, houses the Lower School and the Girls School. There are two school libraries, three computer labs, three art rooms, a digital and a conventional photography lab, and two music rooms. There is also an auditorium for performances and community gatherings. There is also a large courtyard in the center of the campus with the Boys School and Foster Hall located on the north side.
The school has a large greenhouse, on the west side, which serves as a living classroom for four-season, organic gardening methods and environmental science.The school's facilities are geared towards sustainability and include a rainwater catchment system, a solar-powered water system for the greenhouse; edible landscaping and recycling
and composting programs.In 2004, the greenhouse won the Organic Silver Award from the Rodale Institute for their permaculture
style of gardening.
In 2009, the school received a grant from the Iowa Department of Management to construct the first Arbor Day
certified Nature Explore classroom in southeast Iowa. A Nature Explore classroom is a model outdoor classroom for nature-based learning, designed to connect children to nature.
Maharishi School has access to recreation facilities at MUM including a climbing wall, indoor track, cardio and weight training, tennis courts and a swimming pool. It also has a field house for state-wide, inter-school, sporting events.
The Upper School curriculum includes the traditional core subjects of math, science, English, and social studies. The curriculum also includes speech, art, music, writing, senior thesis, photography, History Fair, physics, sculpture, painting, world history, and yoga. Students may study Sanskrit
, which is offered as a foreign language.
Students also study the curriculum known as the Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI), which is said to be the study of universal principles of natural law governing the universe. The principles of SCI are integrated into all academic course content. The school describes its curriculum and educational philosophy as “consciousness-based education”.
The school leads the state of Iowa with six championships at the Destination ImagiNation
competitions and has won six world championships through 2010. At the 2005 global finals, MSAE students took more first and second-place awards than any other school, according to a Maharishi School press release.
In 2011, MSAE students received 40 of the 205 awards given at the Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair, had eight finishes in the top three at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa, won a gold and bronze medal at the International SWEEEP Olympiad, fourth place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
and won the state championship at the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize
National Competition.
Maharishi School is a member of the Photo Imaging Education Association (PIEA). Middle and Upper School students have won awards in many of the PIEA International Student-Teacher Photo Competition and Exhibition events, including Grand Prizes in 2002 and 2004.
In 2009, students won seven out of the eleven awards available in Iowa's Second Congressional District in the Congressional Art Competition, a nation-wide event sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2010, Maharishi students again "dominated" the competition in the Congressional Art Contest by taking the first and third place awards as well as "three of the six honorable mentions" in Iowa’s Second District. Senior Kenzie Wacknov received the top award.
MSAE's tennis coach, Lawrence Eyre has been featured in Sports Illustrated
and was the Iowa Tennis Association's Coach of the Year in 2000. Eyre was the 2007 Central Sectional Coach of the Year selected by the National Federation of State High School Associations
and the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) 2008 Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 2008. Eyre was selected by the USPTA as National High School Coach of the Year in 2009.
MSAE students participate in a variety of athletic, performance and visual art programs. The school also offers a summer day camp program for children 5-10 yrs old.
Students are required to wear a school uniform, which consists mainly of a white shirt and tie for boys and a white blouse and plaid skirt for girls.
The May 2004 issue of Worth Magazine featured Maharishi School, along with seven other private schools, as representing some of the "finest alternative private education options".
Maharishi School was featured in a 2006 edition of the television show, CBS Sunday Morning.
s in Skelmersdale
, UK and Melbourne
, Australia.
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
, USA.The school was founded in 1974, received state accreditation in 1986 and began single-gender classes in 1989. It is located on a 10 acre campus within the main campus of the Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management , formerly known as Maharishi International University, is a non-profit, American university, located in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes the practice of the...
.
The school has an open admissions policy and its curriculum includes the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique
Transcendental Meditation technique
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a specific form of mantra meditation often referred to as Transcendental Meditation. It was introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi...
. Its curriculum includes traditional academic subjects as well as the Science of Creative Intelligence. The school and its students have received numerous awards in state, national and international competitions for science, the arts, creativity and athletics.
History
Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment is one of seven college preparatory schools in the state of Iowa and began in 1974 as an elementary school with 12 students. It provided education to the children of the faculty of Maharishi International University (renamed Maharishi University of Management). Enrollment was then opened to children from the community and in 1981, the Upper School was formed.In 1986, the school received accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. In 1987, grades K-6 also received accreditation from the Iowa Department of Education
Iowa Department of Education
The Iowa Department of Education sets the standards for all public institutions of education and accredits private as well as public schools. It is headquartered in Des Moines....
. Grades 7-12 then received accreditation in 1987 from the Iowa Department of Education as a college preparatory school due to the high percentage of graduates being accepted at four-year colleges and universities.
In 1989, the school began to offer single-gender classes whenever class enrollment was sufficient. In 2003, MSAE split into three schools with gender divisions that included the Boys‚ Middle and Upper School, the Girls‚ Middle and Upper School and the Lower School, grades K-6.
In 1996, after eight years of single-gender classes, MSAE and two Iowa school districts were advised to “discontinue gender-segregated classes”. MSAE school officials rejected the state Department of Education’s order. The issue came under the review of the Iowa Attorney General who sent a letter warning MSAE of a violation of Title IX
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
and of state civil rights laws. Despite possible loss of public accreditation and state tax money for textbooks and local services, the school decided to continue single-gender classes the following school year. The school's website indicates that they are maintaining their single-gender classroom format and accreditation by the Iowa State Board of Education.
The school received a visit from talk show host Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
in October 2011.
Leadership
Ashley DeansAshley Deans
Ashley Deans is Professor of Consciousness-Based Education at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa and Executive Director of Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment...
is the Executive Director, Bevan Morris
Bevan Morris
Bevan G. Morris is the president of Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, President of the Global Country of World Peace, President of Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation, Prime Minister of the United States Peace Government, President of the Maharishi World Peace...
is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Richard Beall is Head of School.
Campus
The Maharishi School campus consists of 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) located on the main campus of Maharishi University of Management (MUM).The Maharishi School's buildings are constructed according to the design principles of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is a set of architectural and planning principles assembled by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi based on "ancient Sanskrit texts" Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture is also called "Maharishi Vastu" architecture, "Fortune-Creating" buildings and homes, and "Maharishi Vedic...
architecture. The main, three-story building, houses the Lower School and the Girls School. There are two school libraries, three computer labs, three art rooms, a digital and a conventional photography lab, and two music rooms. There is also an auditorium for performances and community gatherings. There is also a large courtyard in the center of the campus with the Boys School and Foster Hall located on the north side.
The school has a large greenhouse, on the west side, which serves as a living classroom for four-season, organic gardening methods and environmental science.The school's facilities are geared towards sustainability and include a rainwater catchment system, a solar-powered water system for the greenhouse; edible landscaping and recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
and composting programs.In 2004, the greenhouse won the Organic Silver Award from the Rodale Institute for their permaculture
Permaculture
Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that is modeled on the relationships found in nature. It is based on the ecology of how things interrelate rather than on the strictly biological concerns that form the foundation of modern agriculture...
style of gardening.
In 2009, the school received a grant from the Iowa Department of Management to construct the first Arbor Day
Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.Many...
certified Nature Explore classroom in southeast Iowa. A Nature Explore classroom is a model outdoor classroom for nature-based learning, designed to connect children to nature.
Maharishi School has access to recreation facilities at MUM including a climbing wall, indoor track, cardio and weight training, tennis courts and a swimming pool. It also has a field house for state-wide, inter-school, sporting events.
Academics
Maharishi School has an open admissions policy and any child who has at least one of their parents practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique may enroll. Standardized test scores or Grade Point Average (GPA) are not a factor in admission. Financial aid is offered to families with demonstrated need.The Upper School curriculum includes the traditional core subjects of math, science, English, and social studies. The curriculum also includes speech, art, music, writing, senior thesis, photography, History Fair, physics, sculpture, painting, world history, and yoga. Students may study Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, which is offered as a foreign language.
Students also study the curriculum known as the Science of Creative Intelligence (SCI), which is said to be the study of universal principles of natural law governing the universe. The principles of SCI are integrated into all academic course content. The school describes its curriculum and educational philosophy as “consciousness-based education”.
Awards and competitions
MSAE students have won a number of awards in state-wide, national and International competitions. In 2004, officials said that over the past ten years their students have "scored in the 99th percentile on standardized tests", that 95 percent of their graduates attend college and "the school graduates 10 times the national average of National Merit Scholar finalists" "Critics contend that most private schools that charge $12,000 a year for high school tuition likely would be able to post similar numbers". As of 2010, 34 students at the school have become National Merit Scholarship finalists and 40 students have been semi-finalists.The school leads the state of Iowa with six championships at the Destination ImagiNation
Destination ImagiNation
Destination ImagiNation Inc. or DI is a creative problem solving organization for youth and adults. Destination ImagiNation's educational goals are to foster creative and critical thinking, to develop teamwork, collaboration and leadership skills, and to nurture research and inquiry skills...
competitions and has won six world championships through 2010. At the 2005 global finals, MSAE students took more first and second-place awards than any other school, according to a Maharishi School press release.
In 2011, MSAE students received 40 of the 205 awards given at the Eastern Iowa Science and Engineering Fair, had eight finishes in the top three at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa, won a gold and bronze medal at the International SWEEEP Olympiad, fourth place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world, and is owned and administered by the Society for Science & the Public a 501 non-profit organization based in Washington, DC...
and won the state championship at the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a competition that encourages young people's interest in water and environment issues. Beginning in 1997, the award is given annually for an outstanding water project by a young person or a small group of young people at a ceremony held during the...
National Competition.
Fine arts
The Arts Department consists of Visual Arts and Music. Vocal and instrumental music are offered during school hours and as extracurricular programs.Maharishi School is a member of the Photo Imaging Education Association (PIEA). Middle and Upper School students have won awards in many of the PIEA International Student-Teacher Photo Competition and Exhibition events, including Grand Prizes in 2002 and 2004.
In 2009, students won seven out of the eleven awards available in Iowa's Second Congressional District in the Congressional Art Competition, a nation-wide event sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2010, Maharishi students again "dominated" the competition in the Congressional Art Contest by taking the first and third place awards as well as "three of the six honorable mentions" in Iowa’s Second District. Senior Kenzie Wacknov received the top award.
Athletics
Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment competes in the south division of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference. School sponsored sports include cross-country, basketball, track, tennis, golf, boys’ soccer and girls’ volleyball. Any student can be a member of an interscholastic sports team. Varsity coaches attribute the success of their teams to the players’ practice of Transcendental Meditation.Tennis
Maharishi School tennis program began in 1988. Since then, the boys’ tennis team has won 16 state singles, doubles and team championships, a state record. The team won consecutive triple crowns in 1999 and 2000, taking the singles, doubles and team championships in both years.MSAE's tennis coach, Lawrence Eyre has been featured in Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
and was the Iowa Tennis Association's Coach of the Year in 2000. Eyre was the 2007 Central Sectional Coach of the Year selected by the National Federation of State High School Associations
National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
and the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) 2008 Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 2008. Eyre was selected by the USPTA as National High School Coach of the Year in 2009.
Student Life
Students learn various practices designed to promote good health. The schools natural health program includes self-pulse assessment, yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and guidelines for a healthy diet and daily routine. The school also serves organic vegetarian food and has a tobacco, alcohol and drug-free campus policy.MSAE students participate in a variety of athletic, performance and visual art programs. The school also offers a summer day camp program for children 5-10 yrs old.
Students are required to wear a school uniform, which consists mainly of a white shirt and tie for boys and a white blouse and plaid skirt for girls.
Reception
Parents of students support the mission of the school and the concept of consciousness-based education. Some families have moved to Fairfield so their children may attend Maharishi School. The school has been showcased as a "Cool School" by Teen People magazine.The May 2004 issue of Worth Magazine featured Maharishi School, along with seven other private schools, as representing some of the "finest alternative private education options".
Maharishi School was featured in a 2006 edition of the television show, CBS Sunday Morning.
Other Maharishi Schools
There are also Maharishi SchoolMaharishi School
The Maharishi School is a non-academically selective school in Lathom, Lancashire, UK.-Description:...
s in Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The...
, UK and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia.