All Teachers Are Great Actors

My college professor Mr. Sampson once said that “All teachers are actors in the classroom.” At the time, I thought this was a very insightful statement because I never thought of the act of teaching as performance art.  However, when you think about it, teachers do perform in front of their students daily.  We don’t even realize we are doing it because it becomes second nature.  It’s like a switch is automatically flipped to the on position as soon as we stand in front of our students.  We instantly become another person the moment the lesson starts.

He Was Right

Mr. Sampson’s profound statement took on an entirely new meaning throughout my teaching career. As I observed my co-workers and myself teach each day, the more his words rang true.  Each of us wore many faces as we moved throughout our day to create a comfortable learning environment for our students. 

The show must go on no matter what type of day a teacher may be having.  Students must be taught and learning needs to continue whether we feel up to it or not.  Therefore, we adjust our negative attitudes and do our best to leave them at the door before crossing the threshold into our classrooms.  So, when our students see us first thing in the morning, all seems right.

When we are having a bad day, we put on a show.  When we are not feeling well, we put on a show.  When we aren’t enthusiastic about the topic, we put on a show.  When we are not fond of students, we put on a show. All of this great acting is done in an effort to maintain a professional demeanor and teach children. 

Acting Was Part of My Routine

I experienced this firsthand throughout my 22-year teaching career.  I had plenty of days when I wasn’t feeling my best.  Some days I was ill but came to work anyway.  Other days, I was frustrated, either personally or professionally.  I even had days where I simply wasn’t in the mood to teach at all. Yet, no matter how I was feeling, I thought that their education was important enough for me to make the best of it and perform my duties admirably.

I Wasn’t Alone

I know I’m not alone when I admit that there were many days I was acting in front of my students.  I have witnessed many of my colleagues put on Oscar-winning performances day in and day out to teach their students.  They didn’t allow their issues to affect the education of the children in their care.  The show went on whether they were having a good day or not.

Don’t get me wrong, teachers are human beings, and there is nothing wrong with showing our students that we have feelings too.  There is nothing wrong with being our authentic selves in front of our students because it’s an excellent way to build relationships.  Plus, children can be observant and can sometimes sense when we are not at our best.  Therefore, it’s okay for them to see us have an off day occasionally because nobody is perfect. 

Final Thoughts

In closing, my college professor was accurate in his observation all of those years ago.  So many of us do put on a show to ensure the education and well-being of the students.  We are some of the most outstanding performers of all time. It’s just a crying shame that we don’t receive the acknowledgment we deserve for doing such an exceptional job despite how we feel each day.