Thanks very much for checking that out Stew .

As well , I found someone else in my work studio who secretly uses Illustrator ( for some reason her team is supposed to be using Freehand ... ) and she has the same results as you and I do as in needing to use a key along with the click.
The main difference is she and I must use command(applebutton) /click and you use ctrl/click. 
If we ctrl/click we get an options box to undo/redo/group/join etc.

It's just a little thing that the class instructor and I would also guess the other students  can just do a  plain click to deselect a shape ... but now at least I don't feel like I'm imagining things ... lol, again ; )

" Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations."
-Monty Python