Why introverts shouldn’t be forced to talk in class

...only to be disappointed.

Yes, the painfully shy like myself are given recognition...

...but most of the article dwells upon those who simply "choose" to remain silent, for reasons known only unto themselves, opining that teachers should allow them their right to remain silent, that there is some vast eternal plan for their tight-lipness, and that they shall speak when the spirit moves them and they have something to contribute.

Whatever...

...that ain't my universe, not the world of an true introvert.

I mean...

...you could have stood me up in front of a firing squad and asked: "Do you have any last words?" At the very, absolute most, the executioner might get the same strangled response that I gave my high school social studies teacher when she asked if I was going to give an oral report (after threatening me with dire grade-related consequences should I decline her offer.) That answer would be "No".

From that day forward, even though I maintained a high-90 average on all tests, homework, etc., my report card showed an 89...which was a "C+" back in the day of tougher grading scales. (Actually, she relented after two years, giving me a 95 on my final Senior report card. And, yes, I felt vidicated...although I "celebrated" in typical silence.)

Who knew?

Maybe that CHS teacher was responsible for turning me into the "strong, silent type" who would later grow up to be President (of the Cairo Association of Teachers for 20 years.)

During my teaching career, I too used "classroom participation" as part of my grading system.

But...

True to my roots, I always issued a disclaimer on the first day of class when I explained my means of arriving at the student's final grade. I told my students that sitting attentively, taking notes, and not creating distractions would earn you a perfect participation grade. I mentioned that if you so desired, you could raise your hand, and contribute a pertinent question or answer...but that it was not necessary. In fact, horror of horrors, I also advised my students that: "There is such a thing as a stupid question"...that question being an inquiry into something that I had just taken great pains to explain while said student was sitting with ears closed, waving her/his hand in the air trying to get my attention.

In my scheme of "classroom participation", you received the full allotment of points on the first day of class, an amount you would receive at the end of the grading period...unless you messed up, committing an act disruptive to the educational process.

Introverts, extroverts, and all those in between...welcome to Mr. Newell's class!

BTW:

All those opinions and thousands of words that I kept bottled up inside for all of my "student years"...

...as my students would readily attest as to my lecturing ways...

...and as loyal readers of CAT Tracks would "second that emotion" in a heartbeat, including today's "missive"...

...this introvert has had his say!

McDonald's ain't got nothin' on me...

...that Ronald may brag about serving billions and billions of sandwiches...

...but I would venture a guess that this Ronald has matched him...

...word for burger!

HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE:

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington get a lot of play at this time of year...Presidents' Day and all.

As an introvert, turned history teacher, my favorite United States president was Calvin Coolidge. Elected on a campaign slogan of "Keep Cool With Cal", President Coolidge was known as a man of few words.