My son brought home this inspirational video from the 2006 independent movie Facing the Giants.
I think that what makes the scene an inspirational video is a combination of seeing a human achieve an extraordinary physical feat (never mind that it probably wasn’t filmed as such) and that the player does so through the combination of enthusiastic leadership and a blindfold, framing the idea that what we see as our limits become our limits. There’s also the motivational speech at the end, challenging viewers to acknowledge their own ability to affect those around them.
I honor all of this, but I wouldn’t be likely to show this in my own classroom, for two reasons.
First, I think that the leadership style borders on abusive – it’s certainly very intense (and vocally strenuous!) in a way that I don’t want my students to think is necessary. If we teach students that to achieve their own best, they need to be cajoled, yelled at, or dominated in any way, then that will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Second, repeatedly in the “death march” sequence, the coach says “Don’t give up on me!”
I never, ever want my students to do something for me. I am not the point. This ego-based leadership mentality is the polar opposite of what I seek as a leader. It’s all too common, and probably just as common in musical leaders as it is in athletic leaders.
There are good lessons to be had in this video, but for me, at least, the counterproductive messages outweigh the inspirational ones.