True Grit... or fail.

My wife just returned from a yearly all day teachers meeting where they discuss methods and approach for the upcoming year. One of the key speakers mentioned that according to some new studies, American students have lost their "grit". The speaker said that the most important challenge for this and future generations of students concerning college acceptance and job opportunity will not be intelligence, availability of funds, or even talent... it will be "grit" I.E. perseverance, tenacity, stick-to-it-iveness, the ability to stay on course undaunted. Although intelligence plays a part, it is not the determinant of success, job opportunity or even higher education. The factor that will determine success will be perseverance.

The question and challenge posed to the teachers was, "How do you teach grit?" How do you show students that staying on course and having self-derived determination at a task, any task, every task, is their best approach to their future?

To me, this seems in itself a daunting task for teachers since the modern middle class American child has learned little more than "anything and everything you do is perfect in every way!" and "Mommy and daddy will fix it for you." Add that to a culture of advertisement and entertainment that enforces the misconception that the world "owes" you everything you desire and owes it to you immediately without effort, and you end up with a diminishing return on the future of our children and America.

I'm not forgetting that there are many disadvantaged children that don't have helicopter parents and after-school accolades. But the message from society and the media only offers the same fixation on wealth and fame, food and games; life may be angry, empty of empathy, and hopeless for them. It seems the disadvantages may be even more of a challenge... or are they?

It brings me to a paradox of privilege and need. The child of no need, no challenge and who is ego enriched may have a disadvantage in future competition compared to the child who sees life as a basic struggle. Those struggles do not translate to a meager life; on the contrary they may be and advantage. Of course without home, food and medical security it is hard to imagine the traverse would be possible. It takes social systems that create an environment which will provide those necessities and allow every child to have opportunity. If we have those basic needs met, their may be no limit for the presently disadvantaged child with determination... grit. They may accomplish goals that have only been available to the privileged. It has happened before.

The future of our children may pivot on a lost art within human character, the need to persevere to completion. It's not dependent on wealth or position or even high intelligence but finding the satisfaction of creating something well and the understanding that a self-determined will to accomplish a task is an infinitely greater character trait than an inflated image of ability.

May we have teachers, care givers and parents with enough grit to teach their 21st century students and children the lost art of perseverance.