When Schools Teach Children to Pause: The Lost Art of Stillness in Education
Imagine a classroom where students aren’t rushing from task to task, silence isn’t associated with boredom, and stillness is not only allowed but also instructed. Picture a place where children are taught not only how to respond quickly but also to pause, think, and let their thoughts catch up with a fast-moving world. In today’s educational culture, stillness seems almost defiant, a rebellious act. And yet, stillness could be the very thing missing from helping children tap into deeper creativity, resilience, and emotional intelligence. The Noise Children Grow Up In From the second a child wakes up, they are bombarded with noise – some literal and some metaphorical. We’re pinged by our notifications and hummed at by our TVs; flows of conversation and scurrying schedules are packed tighter than ever. Even schools, although with noble intent, can sometimes add to the noise: lessons that move too quickly, tests that come one after another, and extracurricular activities stacked back-to-b...