Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That
Can’t Stop Talking (which I reviewed on Monday) got me thinking
about how we accommodate introverts in our catechetical
programs. Many school activities and pedagogical methods, such
as group work or presentations, are designed for extroverts.
This is also true for many catechetical and faith formation
programs. (Think of the typical small faith community or Bible
study, which expects conversation, interaction, and the sharing
of one’s personal faith.) With so many youth religious education
programs working off a school model, we need to be careful that
we allow room for introverts (who make up roughly 30% of the
population) to explore and learn through their own particular
gifts as well. Cain includes a whole chapter in her book for
parents and educators on cultivating the particular gifts of
introverted children; many of her suggestions are easily
applicable to catechesis of children or adults. - Don’t force
introverts to act like extroverts. Just