ABSTRACT
Conscientiousness is one of the “Big Five” personality traits and is often cited as the trait most predictive of academic and job-related success. The physiological and psychological toll of grit is particularly pronounced in adults from disadvantaged backgrounds, who are minorities, who lack the financial and social capital to get through the trials of everyday life. Kashdan’s article is fascinating, particularly his comparison between grit and John Henryism. Grit is not the solution to the issues the people may be experiencing in the classroom; it is one way to conceive of the effort and skill needed to achieve at high levels. Knowing what the people now know about the implications of persistent effort, they can begin to think about how the people can provide regular opportunities for their students to struggle their way through problems.
