In “Why Grit is Highly Overrated”, Margaret Wente is passionate and descriptive as she seeks to persuade readers towards her point of view. The author argues that high achievement cannot be taught, as both cognitive and dispositional traits correlated with success are mostly defined by genetics. Wente’s arguments are, however, rendered ineffective by her lack of evidence and tendency towards polarized thinking, while her tone further alienates her readers.
According to Wente, many educators are invested the notion that hard work and perseverance are the most critical factors to success. However, a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom has concluded that even though academic success is not solely dependent upon intelligence, the non-cognitive
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The author states that “grit” has been “widely embraced by educators” (par. 7), but does not provide any examples. She makes no mention of school districts which have added “character education” (par. 2) to their curriculum, or other evidence that would indicate that educators subscribe to the theory that “even mediocre students can become high achievers” (par. 5) if they are taught to be perseverant and patient. Additionally, Wente quotes researchers who claim that the “high heritability of educational achievement reflects many genetically influenced traits, not just intelligence” (par. 10) without citing the names of the researchers or even the organization which commissioned the research. As a result, this appeal to authority is ineffective as the author does not “identify the authority figure” (Prinsen 9) nor “establish his or her relevance to the field of discussion” (Prinsen 9). Furthermore, Wente concludes by arguing that, despite their flaws, schools are still important since “good schools should bring out the best in every kid” (par. 14). Since the rest of the article is a sharp rebuke against the educational system, the author’s attempt to compensate for her invectives appear …show more content…
For example, while the characteristics of “grit” are highly heritable, Wente fails to consider that intergenerational similarities cannot be completely ascribed to genetics. Children tend to model their behaviour upon that of their parents, which could partially explain the phenomenon that “the most significant predictor of how kids will do in school is how their parents did in school” (par. 7). In addition, Wente assumes that intelligence, the cognitive factor of achievement, is a result of genetics alone. She does not recognize that cognitive abilities are influenced by both nature and nurture, since the human brain is capable of physical growth and development. Under the right conditions, brains can build denser networks of neurons, and essentially increase in intelligence. Due to Wente’s polarized thinking, her conclusions appear ill-considered and flawed, leading readers to become suspicious of the content of her
A famous quote by Martin Luther King states “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” The two articles “Hidden Intellectualism” and “Blue Collar Brilliance” both emphasis the author's opinion on the qualifications and measurements of someone's intelligence. “Hidden Intellectualism” focuses on students or younger people who have trouble with academic work because, they are not interested in the topic. Today, in schools students are taught academic skills that are not very interesting, the author mentions this is why children are not motivated in schools. The main viewpoint of this article is that schools need to encourage students
In Carol Dweck’s article titled, “Brainology” Dweck discusses the different mindsets that students have about intelligence. Some where taught that each person had a set amount of intelligence, while others were trained that intelligence is something they could develop and increase over time. in Dweck’s article she writes, “ It is a belief that intelligence can be developed that opens students to a love of learning, a belief in the power of effort and constrictive, determined reactions to setbacks” (Dweck pg. 2). Dweck is talking about a growth mind-set in which is how students perceive the growth of knowledge and that no one person is born with a certain amount of intelligence, it too can be trained and developed over time. By introducing Dweck’s ideas of a growth mind-set to students, students will enjoy learning and be less devastated by setbacks, because they know they can develop intelligence. Dweck also writes that students with a growth mind-set, “believe that intelligence is something that can be cultivated through effort and education. They
statement, “Really? No antipoverty tool- presumably including Medicaid and public housing- is more valuable than an effort to train poor kids to persist at whatever they’re told to do” (par.23). As this is Kohn’s only response to Tough, it requires more than sarcastic questioning to deliver a clear message on his own thoughts. Kohn comes off a bit non-academic. As authors Pedro A. Noguera and Anindya Kundu explain in their article “Why Students Need More Than ‘Grit’”, that this concept of grit is forgetting about other components that can affect academic achievement.
Also, in Carol Dweck’s research article “Brainology”, she states the subtitle “Transforming Students’ Motivation to Learn”. She dishes mindsets and achievement, how do students learn these mindsets, and so on… … Dweck suggests, “Many students believe that intelligence is fixed, that each person has a certain amount, and that’s that. We call this a fixed mindset, and, as you will see, students with this mindset worry about how much of this fixed in intelligence they possess”. Many students believe that the challenge encountered in learning is a threat to their growth path. She put forward two different minds of the ideological study contrast, the finds showed that students studied with a growth mindset were more interested in learning and
In “The Matthew Effect”, Canadian journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell claims that circumstances determine who is and isn’t successful. In “Mind-sets and Equitable Education”, Stanford psychology professor Carol Dweck argues that those with growth mindsets are more eligible to obtain and experience success than those with fixed mindsets. Although these texts may seem to contradict one another, they are actually similar in many ways.Gladwell’s and Dweck’s texts may differ in the sense that one regards to the circumstances leading to success, meanwhile the other claims that believing in oneself can lead to success, but are quite similar due to the fact that circumstances could help motivate and encourage one to accomplish their goals.
Tough explains their analysis and conclusions, by which he reiterates, “… high school grades reveal much more than mastery of content. They reveal qualities of motivation and perseverance - as well as the presence of good study habits and time management skills - that tell us a great deal about the chances that a student with complete a college program” (Tough 153). As apparent in the above text, non-cognitive abilities such as motivation and perseverance are key predictors to the completion of a college degree. In essence, the researchers suggest that the increase in college dropouts is associated with an absence of these character
Have you ever wondered if our education system has flaws? Well in the article “Against School” written by John Taylor Gatto, Gatto once a teacher explains how public education weakens the youth. He starts off the paper by saying how he taught for 30 years, went through a termination, and personally witnessed almost all of the schooling flaws. In Gatto’s article he lists very noticeable names, such as George W. Bush, George Washington, James Bryant Conant, and H.L Mencken to name a few. Having taught children for so long Gatto believes he has the expert rule in this subject. He proposes that to bring out the best qualities in a child you have to let them make decision and let them take their own risks. Gatto’s mission in this article is to make you consider, if school is actually important.
Today’s schools are classified according to which social class the children’s parents come from. The American education system teaches students to make decisions on aptitude. Harder standards are implemented with the idea that schools will output better students who know more, or who are more inclined to achieve things. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is the reality. Students are being taught to follow methods and instructions rather than making decisions based on experience.
In dealing with a generation that has become increasingly motivated by instant gratification, grit has been brought to the forefront of desirable character traits. Duckworth mentions, “grit is the single trait in our complex and wavering nature which accounts for success; grit is the strong current of will that flows through genetic inheritance and the existential muddle of temperament, choice, contingency-everything that makes life, life”. As Duckworth previously stated, grit is different for each child and relies on the traits they are given. Your temperament, willingness, and motivation are chosen for you, but can be practiced upon. If the concept of grit was taught in schools, it would show tremendous academic progress and help develop a strong mindset for all students. Students who are dedicated to the long-term goals they have set are great examples of the application grit has in schools today. As Angela Duckworth put it, “Grittier spellers practiced more than less gritty spellers.” She is telling us that students who persevere and thrive can achieve their goals. Even so, the effects of grit have lessened due to the increase of poverty and the decreasing in moral standards because of the negativity in today’s
The nature vs. nurture debate: the nature side, are those such as biologists, psychologists and others in the natural sciences, argue that behavioral traits can be explained by genetics. Those taking the nurture side are sociologists and others in the social sciences, they argue that human behavior is learned and shaped through social interaction. This argument should be dismissed because you don’t have to look far to see that both genetics and our environment, plays a role in who we are and our behaviors. (Glass). The point is there is a complex relationship between nature and nurture, either one alone is insufficient to explain what makes us human. (Colt). Our heredity gives us a basic potential,...
Dweck’s view contradicts Isaacson’s because Isaacson believes in intelligence being an innate quality. Dweck however, defines intelligence as how individuals continue to push and persevere despite the several setbacks they encounter. Dweck’s studies show two types of mindsets; growth and fixed. Isaacson’s article leans more towards the fixed mindset rather than to the growth, or ideal mindset. Dweck also focuses more on the process than the final result as she holds learning and hard work in higher regard than the end result.
It is their opinion that students would not be taught principles like caring for the greater good and having compassion towards others. As a direct result, they would be devoid of crucial moral characteristics that help define us and our society. Another problem with this movement, in their opinion, is that, as Snyder states, “Character is treated as a kind of fuel that will help propel students through school and up the career ladder.” Here, the journalist brings up a decent point. Those who support the teaching of grit in school can often sell the characteristic as if it were just a tool to survive their education, rather than a quality that would define us. In any case, the skeptic’s main concern with the development and teaching of grit is that it can destroy or replace crucial moral values that define us as
Education is designed to serve many purposes towards the youths of today. It teaches the youth how to be better people and it prepares them for life. Education teaches its pupils knowledge in more that one way, by looking at life in different directions. There is a curriculum that is taught by the teachers and the textbooks, and in addition to the standard schooling there is also a “hidden curriculum.” Gatto and Rose each have their own style of teaching and learning and their articles explain their unique styles. In college, high school, and even previous schooling, lessons are taught that enforce hidden instruction, but the students that succeed are the ones that recognize this and learn from it.
Academic excellence is thought to be a very high-prioritized achievement in today’s society, and in order to reach many goals of success knowledge is the key. Although knowledge is very helpful, without grit you will never achieve great things.
achieving and future were another thing that tested out to be largely due to heredity and