1. Recently on National Public Radio a noted associate professor from Penn State,
Angela Duckworth discussed the one factor she has determined that can help people
succeed in life. I actually do not regularly listen to NPR, however a colleague
forwarded me the link because she knew I am obsessed with the lack of it in today’s
society. The quality she has found after much research that it is not intelligences,
money or good looks that make people successful. The American Heritage
Dictionary defines grit as having an indomitable spirit. According to Merriam
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines grit in a bit more detail. It states grit is
firmness in mind or spirit, and unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.
I 100% agree with Ms. Duckworth. The one thing I disagreed with her was at the end
of her speech she said she does not know how to teach it to students so that they
will have it during their adult years. I am not sure I know how to teach it but I sure
know what does not teach grit.
1. Recently I received and email from a parent (yes technology is great I do not
have to speak to parents, I can email them). In this email the parent was
concerned about her son’s grade in my class. So far this email seems fine
right? This woman is just concerned about how her son can improve in
English. Wrong. The email was phrased like this: “Why is (Insert any boy’s
name) doing so poorly in your class but not in any of his other classes? “
Umm, I don’t know about his other classes. My mother taught me in
kindergarten to worry about myself. So I cannot answer what my co-workers
grading policy is. BUT, said student has not done any homework, is absent
quite often and shows no effort in class discussions. This young man is in
high school. I have has this young man twice already. I know why he is not
doing well: he does not do well in English. It is the same reason why I always
had high grades in some subjects but I always had lower grades in science.
2. Babying your children. Of course we do not want our children to have to
build grit while in the face of danger. No one wants his or her child to even be
in danger. BUT, let them experience some hardships. Let them receive a
demerit or detention for forgetting a book at school. Do not go back to school
and ask the custodian to open the classroom, do not text all of the mothers in
the class so they can complete their homework on time. One mother argued
with me with a great point: what if your child really needs to do the
homework to keep up with the class. I honesty thought about it and told her
okay get the work, but do not let them hand it in. Let them get detention. Let
them forget their sneakers for gum. Do not run to school and feel bad that
they cannot participate. If they learn a lesson they may not forget again.
So let your kids fail. I know it is hard. But maybe that will be our hardship and we
will acquire more grit.
What do you think? Do you have a story in how not to teach grit? Come on teachers I
know you have them! Email me at beth81772@aol.com.
Have a great week.