"Just Work Harder"

Linda Nathan starts “Just Work Harder,” the third chapter of When Grit Isn’t Enough, by observing, “We tell students that if they work harder, they will succeed.” We sure do - and it’s not only educators who say this. In many homes, including mine, parents perpetuate this message. I certainly did when it came to my oldest son, who is now a senior in high school.

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"Race Doesn't Matter"

Chapter two of When Grit Isn't Enough explores the difficult realization that race does matter when it comes to going to college. This chapter reinforced for me how important the arts are. The arts have the ability to dismantle our preconceived notions of others, and they serve as a public forum for discussing challenging topics.

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We'll Still Rise

It’s impossible to have a discussion about El Sistema without touching on lofty ideals of social change. Music educators in the United States, Venezuela, and around the world seek to transform and uplift underserved communities through orchestral training

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Brad BarrettComment