High schools try therapy pets, 'recess,' no-homework nights to lower 'epidemic' student stress

[liberal_at_heart]

7. my daughter's friends are in an advanced high school degree program

If you take enough advanced classes you can get a high school degree that reflects that so you can look good for colleges. The down side is to get the diploma you have to take really, really hard tests at the end of the semester. My daughter has taken several advanced classes but was not really interested in the diploma so she doesn't have to take the tests. Her friends are always completely freaked out when it comes to taking these tests. I feel bad for them. Her school offers yoga as one of its PE classes. My daughter took it last year. They still had to do regular PE things like run and do difficult exercises, but on Friday all they did was lay down on their mats, listen to relaxing music and meditate. Those were the good days that really allowed them to destress. I have two kids in school right now and it is a very stressful time to be a student. I have fought very hard to make sure my son who struggles in school keeps a positive self image.