When Grit Hits the Fan
I am increasingly hearing the term "grit" thrown around in relation to education. In January 2014, Michelle Obama elaborated on the concept (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/01/16/first-lady-michelle-obama-hosts-discussion-education). Discussing some of the obstacles she managed to overcome in life, she said, "It is not your circumstances that define your future--it's your attitude. It's your commitment. You decide how high you set your goals. You decide how hard you're going to work for those goals. You decide how you're going to respond when something doesn't go your way" (http://thegrio.com/2013/11/13/michelle-obama-the-ambassador-of-grit/). True Grits...to some extent.
Foremost of the authors of "grit," Paul Tough penned How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. He associates "grit" with personal characteristics such as perseverance, determination, optimism, self-control or