Years ago, it was not unusual to hear an adult say to children or teenagers, "Please be quiet, I can't hear myself think." Or, "Turn down the TV, I can't hear myself think." Back then, it was a given that silence was an important part of one's intellectual life, that quiet was necessary to think clearly, and that distraction needed to be minimized if one were to study effectively, to shape and organize one's thoughts. Much more so then than now, people sought out the quietest spot, the furthest corner of the library, say, or an empty classroom, in which to do their work. In these secluded moments, one could concentrate on one's work and think deeply about a subject. These days, it is much more likely that a student will seek out the busiest, noisiest coffee shop in which to read or write a paper. Or, she parks herself in her bedroom to do her homework with her laptop, iPod, and cellphone all going at once. Today's distractions, it seems, are mostly self-imposed, coming by way of the constant use of earbuds and the ubiquity of smartphones. Quiet, it seems, has gotten a bad name.
Until now. It turns out that more educators are starting to point out the perils of nonstop sensory stimulus to clear thinking and cogent writing. Research also shows the advantages of emptying one's mind for short periods of time, with mediation for example, as a way to refresh, or "restart," the mind. In this spirit, Independent Teacher is pleased to publish Silence To Stillness, an essay that discusses the importance of including quiet time in our lives and mentions ways that teachers can introduce "stillness" into the classroom. As the quantity of our work (students and teachers) multiplies and the use of technology becomes more pervasive every day, many parents and educators are beginning to see the benefits of being unplugged and unengaged, even for short periods of time. Even the head of Google, Eric Schmidt says,"Take one hour a day and turn that thing off," Schmidt told graduates at Boston University, where he received an honorary degree ...." "Take your eyes off that screen and look into the eyes of the person you love. Have a conversation, a real conversation," Schmidt said.
There are now national movements, such as Screen-Free Week, meant to limit students' use of technology, but it seems to me that the much smaller stages of the classroom and the home are the best places to acquaint students with the benefits of silence. Collaborative study, small and large group discussions, lecture, and group projects are all essential to the learning process, but let's not give up on reading and writing assignments or solving math and chemistry problems individually and in silence. We owe it to our students--as they figure out who they are--to help them determine if silence is a mode that can be productive for them. Let's be sure to help our students hear themselves think.
S. I.