Being Quiet

The power of silence in a noisy world

by Claire Law (revised, originally published in 2015)

Suitable for Whole School (Sec)

Aims

To reflect on the benefits of silence and stillness.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Being Quiet) and the means to display them.
• Have available the song ‘The sound of silence’ by Simon & Garfunkel and the means to play it at the beginning of the assembly. You may like to play it at the end of the assembly too. It is 3.58 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/NAEppFUWLfc

Assembly

1. Play the song ‘The sound of silence’ as the students enter the room.
   
   Wait for the song to end.
   
   
2. Explain that you want the students to listen in silence for 30 seconds and then share any sounds that they have heard.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   The sounds could include traffic noise outside, noise from other students in a different part of the building, the hum of the lights, someone in the room coughing or shuffling, the sound of breathing and even a tummy rumbling!
   
   
3. Point out that we live in a noisy world. It is rare to find time, even for 30 seconds, to stop and listen to the sounds around us. Much of the background noise that we hear is unavoidable, such as traffic noise and the sound of the school bell. However, there are some noises that we voluntarily tune in to, such as music, TV and our friends talking. This can be enjoyable and enrich our lives. Most of us enjoy listening to music, for example, and many people love to attend sporting events such as football matches, where the cheering and ear-deafening chants of the supporters enhance the atmosphere!
   
   
4. Ask the students, ‘Is there also a place for silence and stillness in our noisy world?’
   
   Point out that Germany is a country that emphasizes the importance of silence and quiet.
   
   In 1907, the first modern earplug was developed by a German pharmacist called Max Negwer. He called his new invention Ohropax, combining the German word for ‘ear’ and the Latin word for ‘peace’.
   
   In the same year, Germany’s first anti-noise society was set up in Hanover. Its founder, Theodore Lessing, repeatedly told the society’s members, ‘Silence is noble.’
   
   
5. Today, in Berlin - the capital of Germany - loud noise is strictly forbidden after 10 p.m. On Sundays, Ruhezeit , or ‘quiet time’, starts earlier, at 8 p.m. By this time, shops must have closed their shutters, trucks are banned and power tools for gardening and so on cannot be used. Many visitors to Germany have noted how even the children’s play areas seem quieter than in other parts of the world.
   
   
6. Show Slide 1.
   
   The German poet Goethe wrote, ‘Talent develops in quiet places.’
   
   
7. There is evidence that silence in the classroom can actually improve students’ performance. In her 2011 study, Dr Helen Lees from Stirling University found that ‘strong silence’, where students had the opportunity to focus and reflect in a stress-free environment, had a significant positive effect on concentration and behaviour.
   
   
8. Ask the following questions.
   
   - How could we find spaces and opportunities for silence here in school and in our local area?
   - Do you think that finding spaces and opportunities for silence is important?
   
   Ask the students to discuss in pairs or groups if appropriate.
   
   
9. Evidence suggests that silence is beneficial to health. Noise, especially when it is louder than 30 decibels, is associated with high blood pressure, anxiety and stress.
   
   Silence lowers blood pressure and enables people to deal with life’s challenges in a better way. If we stop while we are in the midst of frantic activity and listen to the silence, we can centre ourselves. Silence can help all of us to feel human again.
   
   
10. The Bible tells us that Jesus appreciated the value of silence, stillness and solitude. We read of him withdrawing to quiet places, away from distractions, such as in Luke 5.16: ‘But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.’
    
    Show Slide 2.
    
    So, Jesus chose to seek out places of silence and stillness from time to time. Maybe, if smartphones had been invented 2,000 years ago, Jesus would have switched his off sometimes while he sought a place of silence!

Time for reflection

Let us pause and reflect on the following questions.

Show Slide 3.

- When in your daily routine do you have time to stop and be still?
- What is it that you need to stop doing to find opportunities for quiet stillness and peace?
- Can you think of a particular location that would be a quiet place for you?

Prayer
Dear God,
We thank you for the gift of sound: the cheerful noise of friends laughing together, the joy that we feel when we hear our favourite music and the excitement of cheering on our sports teams.
Please help us to recognize and respond to the example that Jesus gave us.
Help us to seek out places of stillness and calm.
Please give us the wisdom to recognize when to look for quiet moments.
We take a moment now to be still and silent before you.

Pause to allow time for thought.

Thank you.
Amen.

Song/music

‘The sound of silence’ by Simon & Garfunkel, available at: https://youtu.be/NAEppFUWLfc (3.58 minutes long)