The Career Cycle of Teachers: A Review of Mr. Holland’s Opus

In the 1995 film Mr. Hollands Opus, we anticipate as the protagonist Glen Holland goes from a near novice to a tell apart teacher. Although the film ends at his (forced) retirement, judging by his past interlocking I would imagine he will continue, in the teacher emeritus tradition, to learn students and teachers and possibly as an advocate for arts education (Steffy & Wolfe, 16). There argon two specific incidents I wish to compare to illustrate the vocation development of Glen Holland.One is in the development of a senior inspection that he devotes much of his time to during the later part of his career, and the otherwise is his stopping point to merged methods into his teaching and conducting that offer ways for the deafen community to experience music. These two incidents follow directly on the heels of each other, proving that the process of reflection, renewal, and increase (17) which Steffy and Wolfe discuss in their article on the career cycle of teachers is a con stant, and constantly changing, process.During the years previous, we are able to see many career-altering moments for Glen Holland, from accomplishment his wife is pregnant to teaching a young man to view the rhythm (Herek). It is during his final decade of teaching when he helps to create and cook a senior revue in place of the senior play. His involvement in the school revue shows he has a broad modulate across departments within the school.Compared to his initial lack of involvement, to the extent that he would literally run to his car as soon as the bell rang at the end of the day, the amount of time and energy he puts into a non-academic body process shows his progression as a well-rounded teacher. At the same time, he has chosen to put energy into teaching that should perhaps be dismission into his family life, and particularly his deaf son, who he has never learned to communicate with properly. interest this production, in which he encourages a young woman to follow he r talent to New York instead of working at her familys restaurant, he has a revelation ab bring out his family and son. His son, Coltrane, confronts him close his thinking that Cole, as a deaf person, cant appreciate music.This spurred Glen to learn ways he could incorporate new methods (specifically using lights to play movements during a concert) into his teaching and performing. In an hearing with Frank McCourt on PBS, he said that his turning point in teaching led him to discover that he was the big learner out of this teaching experience (Only). This experience seemed to light a new sock of teaching in him, perhaps because, like Frank McCourt talks about, he has rediscovered his own love of learning.These two points in Glens career wrangle the unique career development process of teachers. As Pam Grossman points out in her article about the commerce of teaching and the challenges facing it, there has been a flood of under-qualified teachers into schools (par. 2). However, as Mr. Holland proves, it is not just knowledge of methods that makes one a great teacher, but an intimate and profound knowledge of the subject matter. ahead of time in the movie, he tells a young woman who cant seem to learn the clarinet that Playing music is supposed to be fun. Its about heart, its about feelings, moving people, and something beautiful, and its not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I cant teach you that other stuff (Herek). On the contrary, his skill appears to be in teaching simply that how to love music instead of merely playing notes on a page. Throughout his career development, he shows that it is this love of his subject matter have with his love of teaching itself that has touched so many young lives. article of faith may not always lead to monetary riches, but in Mr. Hollands life it has led to a multitude of personal and overlord riches.ReferencesGrossman, P. (2003, January/February). Teaching From A Nation at Risk to a professi onat risk? Harvard Education Letter. Retrieved April 14, 2008Herek, S. (Director). (1995). Mr. Hollands Opus DVD. Hollywood Buena position HomeEntertainment/Hollywood Pictures.Only a Teacher oppugn with Frank McCourt. (2003). Retrieved April 18, 2008, fromhttp//www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/index.html.Steffy, B. & Wolfe, M. (2001, fall). A life cycle model for career teachers. Kappa Delta PiRecord, 38(1), 16-19.