A Moment Of Silence

Silence is  often perceived as the most outdated commodity in the modern era. In this technologically driven world where emotions, feelings and consciousness are shaped by gadgets and the digital space, opting for silence seems unappealing. Our lives all of a sudden are too busy for quiet time.

A school is a busy place too, there is much to achieve: lots to say, write and read about. But what if you stopped for a moment and let silence prevail? Create a space of nothing that is something. Would classrooms be better for learning? Would students be calmer and happier? Well, educational researchers working closely with silence have unanimously concluded that it is the new improvement tool for schools and it’s free to use! No charge with just a little effort.

If we recall our school days, we would all vividly remember how silence was always endorsed in a negative way. To be quiet when we misbehave or to stand in the corner with our finger on our lips were routine tasks. Students are asked to keep quiet, to allow the teachers to speak and be heard (at the cost of pupil participation). The result is that children learn to associate silence with fear, repression, authority and a lack of freedom that hurts them. They grow up to be adults like us who feel uncomfortable even if there is a long pause in between a conversation; we fidget with our phones or change the topic just so that we can escape from the nerve wracking silence.

As parents and educators what we need to do is shift the focus and endorse positive silence as opposed to the negative one which we are so accustomed to. This is different because it requires democratically agreed participation. If children are consulted and agree, entering into a silent state can bring many powerful benefits. It can increase concentration level, put a person in touch with their body, rebalance a tense atmosphere, help assimilate learning to long term memory, reduce hyperactivity and effectively manage conflicts.

At Seth M.R Jaipuria, we strive to start and end our lessons by observing one minute of silence. We believe this is the first step to nurture young minds that are mindful of their thoughts and actions. For younger kids silence is guided and introduced in short bursts during the day. Students of higher grades report better recall of facts and a longer attention span, to start with.

Not only is this an effective educational tool but it creates positive parenting relationships. As parents, you could introduce an activity at home of silent reading, where you along with your child could read good literature without talking. This sends a message across to the child that being silent is valuable because adults at home are engaging in it too; it also develops a love for reading and teaches the art of introspection at a very early stage.

Most children know silence only as an action demanded from them, or as punishment from controlling adults and teachers. They have been denied, by adults who have lost their own way in this noisy world, the resources of quietude and contemplation. Positive silence is a strong force that helps create compassion and belongingness in a way that no other activity can bring about so effectively in kids. When we offer children opportunities to experience the sacred splendour of silence, they will receive what no textbook can offer — access to their inner self, a place of wisdom, authentic power, and creativity.

 Anam Zaidi

Counselling Psychologist

Seth M.R Jaipuria