Published: March 22, 2008 10:43 pm      

Yoga class stretches school limits on religion, critics say

BOSWELL — While local elementary students reportedly remain involved in administrator-encouraged Superbrain Yoga practice, some parents say they still feel in the dark about what they see as a religious intrusion.

After about 18 concerned parents attended a North Star School District board meeting Tuesday to complain about in-class Superbrain Yoga exercises at the district’s Central Elementary School, parents and even school board members are unsure of what is happening with the program, aimed at improving state test scores.

“I think that was the biggest concern with everyone,” said Dave Pelesky of Jennerstown, whose second-grade daughter attends the elementary school.

“It was never in the school newsletter, and it wasn’t sent home in a note with the kids. Nobody knew anything about it.”

When Pelesky got word of the new exercises – which promoters market as based on the principles of subtle energy and ear acupuncture – he sent a letter with his daughter, saying she will not participate.

At the meeting, administrators gave a presentation on Superbrain Yoga, which directs a person to squeeze his or her earlobes while doing deep knee bends. A Web site for the practice’s book references clairvoyants and “life energy.” Administrators, at some point, renamed the move “Superbrain Exercises.” School Principal Dawn Malunchnick did not return calls for comment.

Pelesky said he has heard nothing on proposed changes since the meeting and he didn’t feel that administrators responded to questions during the meeting.

Parents were particularly opposed to students facing east while conducting the exercises.

“There were no answers,” Pelesky said.

At the board meeting, Superintendent Dennis Leyman told parents the idea came from a presentation of a study on Superbrain Yoga’s effect at Norristown Area School District, where students showed improved test scores as well as class participation. That study is available at pranichealing.org and is signed by Norristown teacher Kim Siar, who calls herself a “teacher practicing Pranic Healing” in literature available from the Pranic Healing Web site.

Leah Harris, assistant press secretary for the state’s department of education, said she has not heard of the technique.

“Generally, these matters are strictly local,” she said. “If they felt their rights were being violated, they could seek consel. Things of that nature (curriculum) always are going to be left up to the school district.”

School board members apparently were unaware of the exercises before the meeting.

Member Bryan Brougher said he was a little bothered that the board was not notified, but he does not see it as a serious problem at this point.

“I look at it as: Proceed with caution,” he said. “We should keep an eye on it.”

Member Martin Blough said he was surprised, but not overly concerned with the practice.

“My personal opinion is, it is just simply an exercise,” he said.

“The only religious overtone I saw was having them face east.”

Blough said administrators agreed, after the meeting, to have students face the front of the class and not necessarily east.

“My understanding is, they are still doing it,” Blough added.

Board member Gina Wiedenhoft, though, said she could not comment because she is unsure what administrators will decide amid the controversy.

Teachers had been instructed to have students perform Superbrain until the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests are administered in April, Wiedenhoft said.

But parents such as the Rev. Chuck Hildbold Jr. of Jennerstown United Methodist Church want it to stop now.

“What we wanted was for this to stop,” he said. “It is still going on.”

That’s as far as he knows. Some parents are upset that they still don’t know what decision, if any, administrators made in light of the controversy.

“It’s just obvious. It is a religious practice,” said Hildbold, who gave a presentation at the meeting against the exercises. His third-grade son told him about Superbrain Yoga, weeks after he had been partaking in the class activity.

Hildbold said he thinks parents will continue to push for an end.

“If this is going to continue, this is just the start. Parents didn’t know anything. The board is going to need to take note of this,” he said.