The book explores the importance of noncognitive skills like focus, perseverance, and delaying gratification in children's success, arguing that these traits can be taught and are crucial for overcoming the effects of poverty. The author examines various programs and approaches that aim to instill these skills, highlighting the need for a balanced approach in education reform.
The book delves into the critical role of noncognitive skills in children's success, emphasizing that traits like focus, perseverance, and delaying gratification are often more important than cognitive skills alone. The author presents scientific data showing how stress from poverty affects children's ability to focus and exercise self-control, but also offers hope by demonstrating that these deficits can be overcome with the right support. The book explores various programs and approaches, such as KIPP schools' character report cards and the OneGoal program in Chicago, which aim to teach these essential skills. The author argues that while the book doesn't provide all the answers, it raises important questions that could change the education reform conversation. The emphasis on character and grit is seen as crucial for equipping children to succeed in life, and the author makes a compelling case for society to step in when parents alone cannot transmit these skills.
Quick quotes
Kids won’t succeed unless, along with the 3R’s and all the other cognitive skills that schools are charged with inculcating, they also learn noncognitive skills like focusing, persevering and delaying gratification.
These skills aren’t necessarily measured by test scores, but they can be far more important in determining who gets ahead not only in school but in life.
The whole idea here is that these things can be learned.