To the editor:

I couldn’t agree more with other letter writers and your editorial writer about the value of preserving theater programs in our schools.
However, this part of your editorial gave me pause:

“Ask most hiring managers who they would prefer to hire — the introvert who earned an A- in AP Calculus or the confident extrovert who earned a B- in AP Calculus — and most would choose the latter. In fact, the latter would be the obvious choice from the second they walked in the door.”

Wow. Introverts lack confidence? It’s obvious that most employers wouldn’t want to hire them? So much for the estimated third to half of the population who are introverts!

The view you expressed reflects the myth that extroverts are superior to introverts when it comes to hiring and other matters. In fact, both types bring a lot to the table; experts believe a healthy mix produces the best outcomes in the workplace and society at large.

More to the point, I would bet that schools’ theater programs attract both types. Perhaps more of the extroverts are on stage and more of the introverts are backstage — working on sets, costumes, lighting, sound, publicity, and the rest — but that’s not always true. Many actors and leaders — like Meryl Streep and Warren Buffet — are introverts who blossom when engaged in their professions.

The difference between the two types is not well understood, but fortunately a wealth of information is available in books and online. I especially recommend the New York Times bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, as well as author Susan Cain’s website.

Introverts go through life judged for being quiet or shy, and often misunderstood as being aloof. In fact, they tend to speak when they have something important to say and can be quite outgoing and entertaining when in their element. How wonderful that activities like school theater programs support every participating student, quiet or not.

Irene Racz
7 Weetamoe Farm Drive
Bristol, RI