Are you a Student Whisperer?

I just saw the amazing documentary Buck, the story of Buck Brannaman, a horse trainer (although he might say people trainer) and technical consultant for the movie the Horse Whisperer. In addition to its perfection as a film of integrity, beauty, insight and sensitivity, it resonates with me in a powerful way as a teacher and trainer who works frequently with, or on behalf of, some of our most vulnerable learners.


While every moment of this film was riveting for me, there were a couple of statements Buck made that continue to resonate with me and make me reflect more purposefully on this work that I do. He's a horse trainer working with horses and their people, but I think the following pearls of wisdom apply equally well to my work with learners and their teachers. What do you think?

Buck Brannaman: "The horse is a mirror to your soul. Sometimes you will like what you see, and sometimes you won't."

We can't take responsibility for the internal world of others or even their behavior, and as teachers and trainers, coaches and consultants, we certainly don't have the sustained influence that a parent has, but is there any part of this statement that might apply to us in this work? Is it possible that in the classroom the learner is a mirror to my soul? At the very least isn't my response to students and training participants a mirror to my soul?

I know that I am drawn from my soul to this teaching work: curriculum design, coaching and training for vulnerable learners in prison, recipients of social services, or in college programs designed for the academically underprepared. I even enjoy the rascally ones, the ones who don't edit much before speaking, not in a mean way, but in an authentic expression of their feelings and needs. I also admit that I can feel stressed by certain dynamics in some teaching and training situations. But when I'm able to receive folks where they are, without feeling like I need to change them, but rather come alongside them for a time on their journey, I like what the mirror shows me. When I allow myself to take something personally or to become stressed or ruffled when someone is doing something I think they shouldn't do, I don't like so much what the mirror shows me.

Buck Brannaman: "Rather than helping people with horse problems I'm helping horses with people problems."

The application of this statement is a bit provocative, but something about it resonates with me still. In the most progressive and exciting social service and higher ed organizations I work with there is a definite shift away from "fixing the student/client," while zooming back to give new attention to the systems and professionals who surround that client. In the most influential organizations, I am seeing a shift away from a singular focus on the vulnerable student, to a broader view that includes the professional teachers, trainers, administrators and the systems in which they work. The newest and boldest efforts are focused on systemic practices and policies to change how we do our work and the structure of the systems that serve these vulnerable learners. Could it be said then that rather than helping systems with student problems, there is a shift to helping students with systems problems?

In my work with organizations devoted to using evidence-based interventions to support children and families, there is a definite principle that says if you want to change the behavior of a child, you need to pay attention and coach the behavior of the parent. Couldn't the same be said of our work with vulnerable learners? What part of the long standing systems and traditional practices of professionals need to change to support desired growth in the learners?

What practices does it take to influence gently and respectfully? To be so attractive in who we are on the inside that vulnerable, not yet educationally successful learners let down their defenses and follow our invitation on their own volition? What does it take to be a Student Whisperer? There are more questions than answers here, but certainly a great place to start is to go see this amazing film, wise soul, and Master Teacher, Buck.