Aprendizagem e bem-estar. O legado da Lição do Silêncio de Montessori

The literature on silence emphasizes the importance of silence for attention and listening. The theme has been addressed mainly in the communicational dimension, in interpersonal relationships and in intrapersonal knowledge, as a sometimes positive and sometimes negative phenomenon, in a plurality of forms and functions. In the educational arena, the Lesson in Silence by Maria Montessori stands out. In this paper we aim to understand the conception and levels of silence in Montessorian pedagogy and the conditions for success in the exercise of inner silence by children, as well as to reflect on the current relevance of its place in a school focused on learning and well-being. This study hermeneutic attempts to identify concepts (order, immobility, spontaneous activity, freedom, discipline) that give meaning to pedagogical silence, to highlight characteristics of the exercises of silence with a view to the development of educational acuity and the adoption of a meditation attitude, as well as pointing out connections with current mindfulness practices aimed at promoting children’s well-being. It also attempts to highlight the openness of Montessori’s proposal for a deeper path of silence that favours spiritual elevation as part of integral formation.