The Problem of Teaching Grit to Poor Kids

Despite putting it off for as long as they could, your hosts finally return to the concept of "grit."

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Links and Show Notes:

Your hosts did their first pre-flight, and it went pretty well.

Next up, in direct contravention to the dictates governing the uneasy peace with ATP, there is some computer talk. Specifically, Merlin wants to know if John really didn't do any research, and John wants to hear Merlin's reactions to Apple's recent announcements.

(Editor's Note: At one point, John accidentally/casually reveals the existence of a queue, and, of course, it's all Merlin can do not to stop the program, start over, and spend three hours interrogating John about this previously undisclosed queue. If John thinks he's off the hook for discussing this in the future, he is super wrong.)

Merlin confesses to being more frustrated with the fans than the concept, and John has some thoughts about oat bran. Also, Merlin is obviously more frustrated with the actual concept than he's comfortable admitting.

Can we reliably reverse-engineer grit from success? And how do we account for the grit it takes many folks just to survive day-to-day? John admits to being skeptical about any skeleton key, and Merlin thinks parents get way too attached to stuff that makes them feel smart.

(Episode recorded Tuesday, October 19, 2021)

Credits

• Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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Exile from Dongletown

Reconcilable Differences #86: Horse’s Feed Bag Full of Food - Relay FM

The topic expands to a wider exploration of Big Ideas in parenting, education, and pedagogy. Merlin has a little niggle, and John remembers when parents had a modest annual kiss budget. Then, things get gritty. Can models help kids? Want a Rice Krispies treat?

Chuck Garabedian - Simpsons Wiki

"He also claims that his suit was cheap due to it being the suit that McCarthy-era lawyer Roy Cohn died in"

Research scholars to air problems with using 'grit' at school - The Hechinger Report

While it remains unclear whether grit can be taught, educators should be aware that even if it is possible to teach perseverance and passion, it’s unlikely to translate into things that schools can measure and take credit for.

The problem with teaching ‘grit’ to poor kids? They already have it. Here’s what they really need. - The Washington Post

"My investigation led me to two conclusions. The first is that the widespread assumption that grit is a salient concept for low-income students is a stark misconception. The second is that while grit theory offers little of value to those disadvantaged students, it can certainly harm them, by romanticizing hardship."

MacArthur 'Genius' Angela Duckworth Responds To A New Critique Of Grit : NPR Ed : NPR

MacArthur 'Genius' Angela Duckworth Responds To A New Critique Of Grit : NPR Ed : NPR

"What Shall We Do About Grit? A Critical Review of What We Know and What We Don’t Know" by Marcus Crede

Opening Credits: How TV's Title Sequences Grew Up - YouTube

Art of the Title

A-Team arm bump - YouTube

Stranger Things intro (season 1) - YouTube

Stranger Things on Art of the Title

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L O S T

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