Encouraging pupils to keep noise to a minimum should be a valuable component of all children's education, according to new research.
Encouraging
pupils
to
keep
noise
to
a
minimum
should
be
a
valuable
component
of
all
children
's
education
,
according
to
new
research
.
Dr. Helen Lees, from Stirling University's school of education, says that "enforced silence" is seen as a punishment and often acts to _ children's natural ability.
Dr.
Helen
Lees
,
from
Stirling
University
's
school
of
education
,
says
that
``
enforced
silence
''
is
seen
as
a
punishment
and
often
acts
to
_
children
's
natural
ability
.
But she says that teaching children about the benefits of "enforced silence",--- deliberate stillness that gives them the opportunity to focus and reflect in a stress-free environment--- can have a significant effect on pupils' concentration and behavior.
But
she
says
that
teaching
children
about
the
benefits
of
``
enforced
silence
''
,
--
-
deliberate
stillness
that
gives
them
the
opportunity
to
focus
and
reflect
in
a
stress-free
environment
--
-
can
have
a
significant
effect
on
pupils
'
concentration
and
behavior
.
It is the latest in a string of researches to establish a link between the classroom environment and pupils' academic ability.
It
is
the
latest
in
a
string
of
researches
to
establish
a
link
between
the
classroom
environment
and
pupils
'
academic
ability
.
A study almost a decade ago in London found that children's exam results were cut by as much as a third if they were taught in noisy classrooms.
A
study
almost
a
decade
ago
in
London
found
that
children
's
exam
results
were
cut
by
as
much
as
a
third
if
they
were
taught
in
noisy
classrooms
.
Teaching unions have also called for a limit of 26degC to be put on classroom temperatures because teachers and pupils struggle to work in hot conditions, and some educationalists claim that too much clutter on classroom walls can prevent children from concentrating.
Teaching
unions
have
also
called
for
a
limit
of
26degC
to
be
put
on
classroom
temperatures
because
teachers
and
pupils
struggle
to
work
in
hot
conditions
,
and
some
educationalists
claim
that
too
much
clutter
on
classroom
walls
can
prevent
children
from
concentrating
.
Dr. Lees said, "When we take some research on school settings and put it all together, what we see is that education without silence does not make much sense.
Dr.
Lees
said
,
``
When
we
take
some
research
on
school
settings
and
put
it
all
together
,
what
we
see
is
that
education
without
silence
does
not
make
much
sense
.
In areas of better learning outcomes, better self- confidence and well-being measures, enforced silence in a person's life and an individual's education is shown throughout the relevant research to be a benefit."
In
areas
of
better
learning
outcomes
,
better
self-
confidence
and
well-being
measures
,
enforced
silence
in
a
person
's
life
and
an
individual
's
education
is
shown
throughout
the
relevant
research
to
be
a
benefit
.
''
Dozens of schools across Britain have already introduced periods of "reflective silence" into the timetable.
Dozens
of
schools
across
Britain
have
already
introduced
periods
of
``
reflective
silence
''
into
the
timetable
.
Kevin Hogston, head of Sheringdale Primary, south London, has just introduced a minute's silence at the start of twice-weekly meetings in which children are taught breathing techniques and encouraged to reflect.
Kevin
Hogston
,
head
of
Sheringdale
Primary
,
south
London
,
has
just
introduced
a
minute
's
silence
at
the
start
of
twice-weekly
meetings
in
which
children
are
taught
breathing
techniques
and
encouraged
to
reflect
.
The school plans to introduce it into classrooms every day.
The
school
plans
to
introduce
it
into
classrooms
every
day
.
Encouraging pupils to keep noise to a minimum should be a valuable component of all children's education, according to new research.  Dr. Helen Lees, from Stirling University's school of education, says that "enforced silence" is seen as a punishment and often acts to _ children's natural ability. But she says that teaching children about the benefits of "enforced silence",--- deliberate stillness that gives them the opportunity to focus and reflect in a stress-free environment--- can have a significant effect on pupils' concentration and behavior.  It is the latest in a string of researches to establish a link between the classroom environment and pupils' academic ability.  A study almost a decade ago in London found that children's exam results were cut by as much as a third if they were taught in noisy classrooms. Teaching unions have also called for a limit of 26degC to be put on classroom temperatures because teachers and pupils struggle to work in hot conditions, and some educationalists claim that too much clutter on classroom walls can prevent children from concentrating.  Dr. Lees said, "When we take some research on school settings and put it all together, what we see is that education without silence does not make much sense. In areas of better learning outcomes, better self- confidence and well-being measures, enforced silence in a person's life and an individual's education is shown throughout the relevant research to be a benefit."  Dozens of schools across Britain have already introduced periods of "reflective silence" into the timetable.  Kevin Hogston, head of Sheringdale Primary, south London, has just introduced a minute's silence at the start of twice-weekly meetings in which children are taught breathing techniques and encouraged to reflect. The school plans to introduce it into classrooms every day.