The negative consequences of anxiety have long been recognized as inhibitors to academic achievement. The relationship between shyness and auxiety has been amply demoustrated in adolescent and adult populations (e.g., Cattell, Eber, & Tatsuoka,1970). In this study, a personality scale measuring shyness and an anxiety scale were administered to all children from grades 1 to 5 (n=139) in a New Brunswick elementary school. A significant correlation between shyness and anxiety was found for the overall sample. When these data were analyzed by grade level, large and significant correlations between shyness and auxiety were found primarily for children in upper level grades. Implications for classroom performance are discussed.
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