Mark Van Doren: A Career As A Teacher

Teachers arguably have one of the most important and influential job anyone can have. In their hands is the ability to shape the future. Mark Van Doren, an American poet and writer, once said that “the art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” Teachers bestow upon youth the proper learning devices and tools they will continue to use throughout the entirety of their lives. Why is it then quotes such as “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” come about? Though teachers are not held on the same pedestal as brain surgeons and rockets scientists, they are still deserving of appreciation for the many challenges that arise with their career. Education, theatre education in specific, is a problematic career choice due to the scarcity of jobs, poor funding, and the comprehensive process one must go

Being a teacher is a huge responsibility, for the future of many students can be changed in a classroom. Students everyday can be inspired by their teachers to dare themselves to do something they never thought possible, such as pursing a higher education outside of high school or even learning how to properly write an essay. This is especially true for theatre education. Electives, or non-core classes, are detrimental for students who do not believe they are good at anything. These classes are where kids can find their passion, and where the teachers who help them doing so feel the overwhelming joy that comes with seeing a student of theirs succeed. In theatre classes, students can conquer their stage fright, gain confidence they didn’t know they had, and engage themselves in the very loving and supportive theater community. A majority of theatre majors who become teachers share the same appreciation and passion for the art. Becoming a teacher and being able to spread that love and see it come to life on the stage is a feeling that is quite hard to be put into