In the United States, we live in the culture that worships--more than any other--extroverts. People who are socially comfortable, confident and even aggressive are deemed winners or likely to succeed. To this end, schools of every kind promote intense socialization in academic environments. Grade school kids sit and work in pods; high school students study in teams or with lab partners, and MBA candidates brainstorm issues in groups supposedly free from judgment to promote free thought and creativity. You don't have to tell someone at Proctor that teams work!





So it is with real interest that many of us--educators everywhere--are reading Susan Cain's impeccably researched best seller, Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking. (Check out her TED TALK.) Cain makes many points that challenge our reverence for groupthink. It's not that groups are bad, or that sharing ideas should be frustrated. 



But at least one third of our population can be identified as introverted, and that population includes people whose talents, contributions, and--in particular--brilliant ideas need to be recognized, appreciated and cultivated. Research proves that quiet, contemplative work...work executed alone...is the source of our greatest cognitive advancements.



The term "introverted" applies to much more of the population than those who are obviously shy or withdrawn. It also includes socially successful individuals who simply prefer time alone, reading, and solo problem solving, employing a rich, productive imagination.



Cain isn't advocating a titanic shift in American society or education, but calls for appreciation for the full introvert-extrovert spectrum, to appreciate the genius that comes with concentration and introspection, and for introverts to appreciate their rich peer group of scientists, inventors, artists and leaders. We need thinkers as much as back-slapping doers.



At Proctor, students can make arrangements for exceptions to the rule, but the rule is that they spend two hours at night studying alone. This counts:




Cain's research includes the surprising revelation that classic "brainstorming," in which a team throws out ideas (supposedly without fear of judgment,) is less efficient than providing creative people time and space to study, think and work in isolation (although on-line brainstorming is remarkably effective, due to the lack of ego exposure supposedly lacking in real groups.)