Theatre teacher? Please help answer my question...?

Question:I've been doing a lot of soul searching. I haven't been too sure of what to do in life, But I think I've finally thought of something. I love working with kids and I love acting. So why not be a theatre teacher!

Anyway, my question is, if I want to teach theatre to kids (preferably young children maybe ages 3 to 12 or 14), Would I major in theatre? Or do you think I should major in something else and minor in theatre? If I minored in theatre, would I still be able to get a job as a theatre teacher at a school since it wasn't my major?

Thanx peeps!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I've been doing a lot of soul searching. I haven't been too sure of what to do in life, But I think I've finally thought of something. I love working with kids and I love acting. So why not be a theatre teacher!

Anyway, my question is, if I want to teach theatre to kids (preferably young children maybe ages 3 to 12 or 14), Would I major in theatre? Or do you think I should major in something else and minor in theatre? If I minored in theatre, would I still be able to get a job as a theatre teacher at a school since it wasn't my major?

Thanx peeps!

Most theatre instructors also teach other subjects so you should keep that in mind and possibly double major in theatre and English especially if you want to make a decent living. Some schools will not let you minor in theatre so keep that in mind and though doing a double major is more common these days, it doesn't mean it's easy. Theatre is a big time committment.

I would think you'd be better off talking to your school counselor about your options. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of each decision and you'll at least go into college with a plan :-)

good luck,
Marianne

Certainly a theater background would be essential. Or at the very least something a school would look for. But it isnt the only or most important thing.

Teaching kids at any level in any subject requires a well rounded education. Dont forget, you are also teaching them proper english and other subjects. Even math to some extent. So a good liberal arts background with some theater would be best. And your education in theater need not be in school. If you get some experience with a community theater group or similar, you bring some real life experience...and great stories...to the table. Kids appreciate that.

All that said, majoring in theater would not be a bad thing either. But I like my suggestions better!

You'll want to go to university and focus on those subjects in which you excel. You don't have to know precisely *what* you want to do as an adult, but it sounds like you have a good start at an idea. Go to school, take some drama, English and other classes and see which ones speak to you. You'll know when you've found the right one.

look at colleges that have a theatre major with a teaching certification also. for example one of the colleges i'm looking into- winthrop university in rock hill, sc has this. i'm thinking about majoring in theatre with 2 minors in vocal performance and nutrition. the theatre program there is highly respected.

To teach in any sort of public school setting you will need to be certified. So I'd recommend going for elementary education with either a minor or a double major in theatre. Since there are so many laws and regulations regarding the hiring of teachers, it is much more vital to get the elementary ed. certification than the theatre.

Arts teaching positions are also much more difficult to get into than your average classroom job, so often you need to just get your foot in the door.

No you major in Theater and then take extra education course if you want to get credentialled.

You don't HAVE to be credentialled to teach at a private academy.

It varies depending on your state's requirement for a teaching certificate. To be a teacher in Michigan, you can not have a major in Theater, however, you can have a major in Speech Education with a minor in Theatre. However, if you decide you don't want to be an educator in the scholastic sense, but still want to bring theater to kids, you can always get involved in local outreach programs that teach kids different arts, including theater. There are also many programs out there that use theater and art as a therapy method for kids with disabilities, and many cities offer these programs.

Good luck :)