Strong and Weak silences

And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation and dodging his emptiness. T.S. Eliot Somewhere we know that without silence words lose their meaning. Henri Nouwen I think television has betrayed the meaning of democratic speech, adding visual chaos to the confusion of voices. What role does silence have in all this noise? Federico Fellini Silence is a source of great strength. Lao Tzu Silence is as deep as eternity, speech as shallow as time Thomas Carlyle. Silence is better than unmeaning words Pythagoras I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance and affection to be art. Khalil Gibran Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom Francis Bacon Soon silence will pass into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation. Jean Arp I am rather inclined to silence Abraham Lincoln

How often is your classroom silent for an extended period of time? Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never Who decides that it will be silent? Why do we choose silence?

Why choose silence? (Lees: 2009) “Lack of meaningful quiet time is affecting pupils’ reading levels, language ability and well being.”

Silence allows space for pupils to develop interests about the world around them ‘with a gaze of considered, slow and silent profundity.’ Instead of teachers imposing instruction, teachers are facilitating discovery.

“When pupils are given regular time for reflection, their ability to focus improves significantly. Their stress levels reduce and ability to express sympathy is enhanced.”

Unless an atmosphere of strong silence is in place then “attempts to personalise education will fail because they do not leave aural, psychological and spiritual room for the self to think its way to its own personalised development”

Strong and Weak silences Strong silence Reflective Quiet – Dedicated spaces – Clearing the mind before starting a new task – Deeper learning and developing links – Lateral thinking – Completion of tasks requiring reflection and thought. Chosen Weak silence Authoritarian quiet – Assemblies – Registration – Punishment – Control – To allow the teacher to speak and be heard (at expense of student learning???) Enforced

Silence in practice 1 minute per year of age per hour is a guide. It is important to get student agreement. In particular to highlight that in choosing to interrupt a silence you are interfering with someone else’s right to silence. It can be helpful to have a routine. At the beginning or end of lessons. Following a key question (student or teacher) before starting on a new task. Consider whether students can write down their thoughts as they occur. It needs to not interfere with the silence.

When is a noisy classroom a thinking classroom? (Rudham: 2001) Of course, silent contemplation is only useful if ultimately we get to share our reflections. Students therefore need time to discuss, share, create, synthesise and adapt based on the ideas of others (Capitalising, Interdependence, Empathy and Listening etc.) But this is improved if quality reflection is allowed to occur before/afterwards (PPPB).

Becoming increasingly important? Students lives are rarely empty and rarely silent. Mobile phones, streamed content, social media, clubs and activities etc. mean that many students will experience little if any silence in a day. Processing, memory formation and stress reduction all occur during periods of strong silence. Much research on the cost of context switching would also suggest benefits of silence.