We were reminded recently (By Libby Purves in The Times 10 May 2021) of the importance of young people finding the confidence to speak out in public.
I once sent a reluctant reader to stand away from his classmates on the chancel steps in the school chapel, knowing that he would be expected to read out aloud. Before sending him the words on a written sheet I showed them to the rest of the class. They began, “Mr Inson has big ears.”
Initially our victim was reluctant but he was urged on by the class. Soon he had proclaimed my deficiency to the world and realised that he could raise his voice and command attention as well as anybody.
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