Chenmark - Weekly Thoughts - The Joy of Hard Work
June 08, 2026
by a searcher in Portland, ME, USA
The Joy of Hard Work
What should we be teaching the kids?
We’ve read in the headlines that national test scores in reading and math are declining. Here in Maine, there is a literacy crisis, with only 26% of fourth-grade students reading proficiently. Those are the kind of statistics that make you stop and ask, “What?”
As our kids get older, we’re paying more attention to the educational system. We know nothing about curriculum
specifics, but spoiler alert: there seem to be some different approaches if you look around.
In many schools, there has been a noticeable shift away from traditional grading, testing, homework, and discipline. Some states are doing away with testing or actively lowering standards. Others are taking the opposite approach and ramping up evaluation and accountability. At its core there seems to be an underlying tension between the pursuit of a joyous classroom experience and old fashioned academic rigor. Both seem like noble pursuits. So the question is, where to draw that line?
At this point, regular readers of our newsletter will likely know we have some thoughts.
First, we believe that with everything in life, there must be balance. Kids spending hours upon hours on repetitive homework solely to ace a test at the expense of broader development and happiness is clearly not a good idea.
On the other hand, we reject the notion that happiness is disconnected from hard work, standards and accountability. We believe that working hard in pursuit of a goal is one of life's most rewarding experiences. Sometimes, to learn multiplication, you just have to sit down and do flashcards. Just like if you want to run fast, you have to put in the miles. While doing flashcards or putting in the miles can suck in the moment, the satisfaction that comes from knowing multiplication or crossing a finish line is hard to match.
Fundamentally, learning how to work, even when it’s not “fun” in the moment, is an essential life skill. The reality is that every person faces adversity. Getting good at doing hard things helps with that inevitability. Acquiring new skills is hard. There are setbacks, frustration, and moments when progress feels painfully slow. But then, eventually, you actually get the skill. And that sure is a lot of fun.
We’re reminded of a 2024 Tom Brady speech about why kids should play football. From the speech:
“I would encourage everyone to play football for the simple reason that it is hard. It’s hard when you’re young and to wake up in the offseason to go train and work out, knowing that all your friends are sleeping in and eating pancakes. It’s hard when you’re on your way to practice, weighed down with all your gear, and it’s 90 degrees out while all of the other kids are at the pool or the beach. Your body is already completely exhausted from workouts and two-a-days. But understand this—life is hard. No matter who you are, there are bumps and bruises and hits along the way. My advice is to prepare yourself. Football teaches us that success and achievement come from overcoming adversity and that team accomplishment far exceeds individual goals. To be successful at anything, the truth is, you don’t have to be special. You just have to be what most people aren’t: consistent, determined, and willing to work for it. No shortcuts.”
The reality is that these beliefs start young. It’s a tragedy when kids don’t learn that fulfillment, confidence, and self-belief can come from compounding hard work. The point isn't choosing between joy or work. It's that framed correctly, work itself can be joyous.
Can we single-handedly change the culture or will a different attitude automatically improve test scores? Probably not. But we can take personal responsibility for embodying these values and sharing them with the next generation. After all, fulfillment rarely comes from avoiding hard things. More often, it comes from actually doing them.
Have a great week,
Your Chenmark Team
Subscribe to Weekly Thoughts
Also, we're hiring.
specifics, but spoiler alert: there seem to be some different approaches if you look around.
In many schools, there has been a noticeable shift away from traditional grading, testing, homework, and discipline. Some states are doing away with testing or actively lowering standards. Others are taking the opposite approach and ramping up evaluation and accountability. At its core there seems to be an underlying tension between the pursuit of a joyous classroom experience and old fashioned academic rigor. Both seem like noble pursuits. So the question is, where to draw that line?
At this point, regular readers of our newsletter will likely know we have some thoughts.
First, we believe that with everything in life, there must be balance. Kids spending hours upon hours on repetitive homework solely to ace a test at the expense of broader development and happiness is clearly not a good idea.
On the other hand, we reject the notion that happiness is disconnected from hard work, standards and accountability. We believe that working hard in pursuit of a goal is one of life's most rewarding experiences. Sometimes, to learn multiplication, you just have to sit down and do flashcards. Just like if you want to run fast, you have to put in the miles. While doing flashcards or putting in the miles can suck in the moment, the satisfaction that comes from knowing multiplication or crossing a finish line is hard to match.
Fundamentally, learning how to work, even when it’s not “fun” in the moment, is an essential life skill. The reality is that every person faces adversity. Getting good at doing hard things helps with that inevitability. Acquiring new skills is hard. There are setbacks, frustration, and moments when progress feels painfully slow. But then, eventually, you actually get the skill. And that sure is a lot of fun.
We’re reminded of a 2024 Tom Brady speech about why kids should play football. From the speech:
“I would encourage everyone to play football for the simple reason that it is hard. It’s hard when you’re young and to wake up in the offseason to go train and work out, knowing that all your friends are sleeping in and eating pancakes. It’s hard when you’re on your way to practice, weighed down with all your gear, and it’s 90 degrees out while all of the other kids are at the pool or the beach. Your body is already completely exhausted from workouts and two-a-days. But understand this—life is hard. No matter who you are, there are bumps and bruises and hits along the way. My advice is to prepare yourself. Football teaches us that success and achievement come from overcoming adversity and that team accomplishment far exceeds individual goals. To be successful at anything, the truth is, you don’t have to be special. You just have to be what most people aren’t: consistent, determined, and willing to work for it. No shortcuts.”
The reality is that these beliefs start young. It’s a tragedy when kids don’t learn that fulfillment, confidence, and self-belief can come from compounding hard work. The point isn't choosing between joy or work. It's that framed correctly, work itself can be joyous.
Can we single-handedly change the culture or will a different attitude automatically improve test scores? Probably not. But we can take personal responsibility for embodying these values and sharing them with the next generation. After all, fulfillment rarely comes from avoiding hard things. More often, it comes from actually doing them.
Have a great week,
Your Chenmark Team
Subscribe to Weekly Thoughts
Also, we're hiring.