PATIENCE
The Silence and the Sounds
The most powerful sound ever created is silence. It is the primary sound in churches and synagogues. It is the primary sound in prayer and meditation. It is the primary sound in extreme emotion. Silence is dramatic. It expresses both anger and sorrow. Silence is thoughtful and creates the rhythm for all music literature. The magic of music is the silence between the rhythm sounds. We understand language via the silence between the vowels and consonants. Without the silence the sounds all mesh together and language is not comprehensible. News broadcasters both on radio and television have unique verbal deliveries based on the rhythm of the silence between vowels, consonants, syllables, and words. Some of the most dramatic endings to classical symphonies are based on the repetition and length of silence between the sounds.
There are many examples of the power of silence. Many times one experiences a whole congregation of people praying together in silence. One can feel the power of that silent energy. Churches have 24-hour prayer vigils with individuals entering and leaving the church every hour or half-hour to keep the vigil going. These prayer vigils have repeatedly helped the sick, the suffering, and the dying. Prior to the first note of a piano or violin concerto there is great preparation in the silence before the first sounds of the composition. Teachers and parents who are struggling with the inappropriate behavior of children will use long lengths of silence to communicate extreme dissatisfaction.
In Buddhism there is great emphasis on meditation. The soul of meditation is silence. Although one can pray silently, praying is usually defined as a verbal event rather than a silent event; however, meditation for the most part is universally accepted as a silent event. Gathering mental strength is a major focus of all martial arts programs. Tremendous bursts of energy can follow strong and focused meditation. It is the mental preparation in all physical performances that allows the performer to focus on the physical task at hand without disruption or mental breakdowns in concentration.
In the classroom, as in church, silent reading is a major focus of everyday. Doing work in class is done in silence. Libraries in schools emphasize silence to not distract others. Students are encouraged to be silent when moving through the school corridors between classes or during important safety drills. Listening is a silent activity. When a teacher is exploring all five senses with their students, it is immediately clear that listening is the weakest of all the senses, and this is the sense that students need to develop most.
A student recently ask me why there is such a struggle with listening skills. There is a difference in listening to music which is primarily a “right brain” activity generating much emotion and feeling and listening to words in a specific language which requires note-taking or test questions following a lecture which is more of a “left brain” activity. Also, the source of the speaking is of importance. Children tend to listen to their friends with great interest while at the same time ignoring or tuning out adults who are in power positions and are in control of their environment.
Students many times have difficulty listening to directions regarding a new idea or a different approach to a problem. Many times new and different are most difficult for middle school students to understand and accept. Rigidity and routine work best between the ages of 11 - 15. A minor change of schedule, extreme weather change, a substitute teacher or a different seating in class can totally disrupt the concentration of an entire class. Students want to be able to anticipate what is happening and then successful execute the goal. When the challenge is too weak or too strong there is disruption and a decline in attitude.
Teachers and parents many times want to take the lead in a dialogue with their students or child. Thus, who talks the loudest and the longest wins the discussion. At times it is best to seek to understand the student's view point and respond in shorter sentences or dialogue. Students want to feel that they are heard by their teachers and parents. Sometimes repeating what the students are specifically saying to you helps them to know you “get it.” Too many times students give up on adults in school and home settings or refer to their friends or to a grandparent as the adult response can be filled with too much emotion.
How many times do we see adults overreacting to a student's behavior while the student does not understand what the big deal is all about. Sometimes the student is bluffing, but other times the student is very frustrated with the adult in charge. If this frustration persists the student will give up on the adult in charge and become very passive in class.
Non-verbal communication and body language is all about silent communication which is much more powerful than words. Students between the ages of 11-21 have excellent skills in these areas and very close friends can almost carry-on a dialogue with very small physical movements. At times in only takes a sigh or a yawn to communicate a negative feeling in the classroom or great eye contact to communicate a positive feeling from a student. Sometimes students are better at communicating within silence because much of their lives with adults is demanding silence as the focus activity: school, church, sports training, working out, praying, meditating, or artwork.
Infinite patience yields instant success is a great concept for all time. Sustained silence in the classroom gathers strength and concentration for students. One of the most respectful moments in one's life that brings the highest honor to a colleague, friend, or family member is a moment of silence by all in attendance. I recently watched a NASCAR race at Daytona, and all announcers agreed that in respect of the late Dale Earnhart who drove car number 3, there would be total silence on air in memory of this NASCAR legend on lap number 3. As the cars circled the track, the crowd at Daytona also became silent. All you could hear was the roar of the engines.
In the field of education the most rewarding experience is patience. It may take a year, a decade or most of your lifetime to receive the reward a teacher is looking for in his/her students. However, that reward is out there and it may come to the teacher at the most unsuspecting moment in the most unpredictable way. The greatest fear of a teacher is to forget his/her students. When this occurs there is no reward. Looking for that long term reward is a major dimension of quality teaching. While we live in a society when instant rewards, four-year athletic careers, and one-hit musical wonders are common place, the teacher is functioning on a spiritual plane which may require the reward to carry over into another lifetime.
Great teachers have spiritual callings whether they function in large public school systems or in home-schooling environments. Whether they are in small schools in the country or large universities in the city. Great teachers display their zest and commitment to the point that their students feel it. They display their passion and their patience. For without patience there is not enough time to for the student to be successful. Great teachers know this; thus, their careers and contributions to society are a paradox to the fast-paced pop culture of the 21st century where change is the only constant on the human level. Great teachers are, without question, spiritual beings having a human experience, and those spiritual teacher have plenty of time to be patient and silent while living on the spiritual plane.