Saturday, December 20, 2008

Let your words be three

Ecclesiastes gives the advice, "God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few" (NIV, Eccl 5:2). Andrew Clements book No Talking has fifth grade kids taking this literally (with no mention of or allusion to Ecclesiastes) for 48 hours, much to the disgust of the teachers, and especially the head mistress. Inspired by Ghandi's practice of saying nothing one day a week, the girls and boys have a contest to see who can speak the least. They are allowed three words in response to direct questions from teachers. They end up with a better respect for each other, and for silence.

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