Silence in classrooms = better students

New research suggests silence in the classroom has a positive effect on students, whether it's improving exam results and self-esteem, or diminishing bad behavior.

Dr. Helen Lees, from Stirling University’s school of education, says that teaching children about the benefits of “strong 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 behaviour. Lees' conclusions will be presented in a new book, Silence in Schools, to be published in 2012.

A previous study, conducted almost a decade ago by South Bank University and the Institute of Education in London, found that children's exam results were cut by as much as a third if the kids were taught in noisy classrooms.

Dozens of schools in Britain already introduce periods of meditation and “reflective silence” into the timetable. To read about the programs in The Telegraphclick here.

10/26/11