The Silent Child

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6852, 6 March 1929, Page 11

The Silent Child

Quite frequently we hear a mother or teacher praise a child for “keeping still.” Sometimes we even hear a note of bribery in the attempt to win this silence on the child’s part.

“John, if you’ll sit still for the next .10 minutes, I’ll give you a penny.” And the child, either to gain approval from the parent or teacher, or to win the penny, sits as still as he knows how for the required 10 minutes. The parent or teacher then believing that the desired effect has been gained, may try the same method again or even for several times. This matter •of keeping silent may become a-habit with John, that is quite unnatural to his growth and development. A certain amount of noise and activity is essential to the growth of every child. While the adult may require quiet and peace, and thrive because of it, the child, with his inquiring mind, requires a due amount of normal noise and activity. It rightly belongs to him and should be arranged for him in his schedule both at home and at school. There must be regard for this little, growing, active person in the family life. The day is long and a wise parent can rightly plan for play, for work, for rest, for action, for leisure. Such a schedule can well include rest for the adult and action for the child. It is quite the same in the classroom. A skilful teacher arranges her programme in such a way that each child may receive his proper share of quiet, of study of relaxation, of vigorous exercise, of mental activity. Children always make a noise when they are free and unhampered. It is tho immovable, silent attitude either in the home or in the classroom that is not natural. It is suggestive neither of active growth nor progress. Is the little child who sits “tall” hour after hour, on a hard bench or chair, with "his book held in exactly the right position, really reading? Is his mind keeping ipace with the happenings of the story?

Fortunate is tho child whose teacher lets him live his reading, lets him play the events of his stories, lets him act the situations he meets in his history, his science, his literature. Life is not silent. The woods and fields are full of sounds that express living, being growing. Evon in the denseness of tho great forest one feels and hears the hum of life everywhere. It is growth.