Imperfections
A little like Bruno, from the Disney film, Encanto, we don’t talk about imperfections in the classroom.
We are all aiming for and expecting that A+, perfection, right?
Even though we say “C” is “average”, we don’t accept nor strive for average.
Everything is about competition and being the BEST!
In the movie, Encanto, which, by the way is a brilliant film with so many underlying meanings and symbolism (like most Disney films) there are several themes addressed: identity, power dynamics, family, generational trauma, healing and forgiveness.
Just a side note, Disney films originated with taking fairy tales, fables and myths from other cultures and turning them into films for story-telling purposes of teaching lessons (like the original intention of these genre of literature).
So, let’s talk about Bruno, even though “we don’t talk about Bruno”!
Bruno represents the perceived “imperfection” of the Madrigal family, and he is willing to talk about it.
Unfortunately, he is perceived as “not a good person” because of that and is villainized by his family. So, he exiles himself from the family and lives in fear of his own potential.
Identity crisis, power dynamics, generational trauma…
Think of how much this plays out at home and in the classroom every day…with students and with teachers, especially since the pandemic.
Why don’t we talk about these issues? Why can’t we be vulnerable?
When we perceive that we have imperfections or we are told that we do…repeatedly… we begin to believe them. Then, what?
We feel like we are not enough and that we cannot do enough to measure up, like Bruno.
We may shut down, armor up, give up, run away, lash out, etc.
Mirabel feels shame because of not “having a gift” and overcompensates by taking care of everyone else in the family.
Shame and imperfection: Brené Brown is an expert researcher on these two topics.
According to Brené Brown in her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, we must let go of the need for perfection and instead cultivate courage, compassion and connection.
Brené says that there are 10 Guideposts to Wholehearted Living. Check them out and print them out for your classroom and for at home: here
No matter what the Standards in education say or the benchmarks of the evaluations,
teaching is a “work of HEART”.
And we need to get back to what is at the heart of teaching…
to wholehearted teaching and learning.
I have written about this before in blog posts, my newsletter and in my book Learning Lessons too.
I will not get off that soapbox, and I invite you to check out these resources from Brené.
You can even watch her many, many videos on YouTube here.
Then, ponder what you can do next school year to be more authentic, vulnerable and bring forth the gifts of imperfection in order to cultivate more courage, compassion and connection in the classroom.
This is all a healing salve for the wounds and trauma that are playing out in education today, especially after the pandemic.
Also, here is a great resource for connecting Encanto and SEL for your students – full of downloadable lessons and activities!
Be sure to check out all these resources, and then, come back, and we can TALK ABOUT BRUNO! (or at least listen to the song).
Image credit: Brené Brown at www.brenebrown.com
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