Why is GROWTH so challenging?

Research shows that Dr. Carol Dweck's growth mindset principle has a positive affect on how students develop their cognitive ability. So what hurdles to educators face when trying to cultivate such a powerful approach to learning?

The concept of a growth mindset is a powerful message. I agree with and am fascinated by the idea that mental determination can alter outcomes. However, contrary to Dr. Dweck, I believe that everyone is given a different level of innate intelligence. But, I think that everyone has the capability to improve or even regress. Personally, I am challenged in the department of feedback. Further embracing the growth mindset will change the way I receive it. I am a self-admitted perfectionist. I have unreasonably high standards for myself and struggle mightily with failure. I never want to do a bad job, and if someone is provided negative feedback, though it may be helpful, it means I somehow fell short of expectations. I can honestly say, this struggle is not in relation to how others view me, it’s more of an internal battle. I don’t want to do less than I think I am capable of doing. In summary, I have been challenged to look at feedback differently, to embrace my faults, and to view learning as a longer process.

Switching gears, I think cultivating a growth mindset in our schools is a necessity. I don’t know how many students have said, “I’m just not good at math.” However, I feel that this cultivation faces an extremely difficult environment because of how the educational system is evaluated. There is a disconnect here. There will always be a preoccupation with grades when everything is being graded. In Texas, entire school districts are now given a state-issued grade based on standardized tests. Students lose elective choices and are placed in remedial classes if they don’t make a good enough grade. The top public universities only accept select students based on class rank, which is determined solely by GPA. For students and even some teachers, the YET might not be soon enough. At some point, I would absolutely love to study schools that have fully integrated the growth mindset into their school culture and figure out how they are able to deconstruct this approach to learning, when our system seems to promote the opposite.