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

In the 1995 film Mr. Hollands Opus, we watch as the protagonist Glen Holland goes from a near founder to a distinguished teacher. Although the film ends at his (forced) retirement, judging by his past involvement I would imagine he will continue, in the teacher old tradition, to mentor students and teachers and possibly as an advocate for arts education (Steffy & Wolfe, 16). There are two specific incidents I wish to compare to illustrate the charge development of Glen Holland.One is in the development of a senior revue that he devotes much of his time to during the later part of his career, and the other is his decision to check methods into his instruction and conducting that offer ways for the deaf community to hear music. These two incidents follow directly on the heels of each other, proving that the process of reflection, renewal, and growth (17) which Steffy and Wolfe discuss in their article on the career cycle of teachers is a constant, and constantly changing, process. During the years previous, we are able to see many career-altering moments for Glen Holland, from learning his wife is pregnant to teaching a young man to find the rhythm (Herek). It is during his final decade of teaching when he helps to create and produce a senior revue in place of the senior play. His involvement in the school revue shows he has a broad influence across departments within the school.Compared to his initial lack of involvement, to the limit 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 activity shows his progression as a well-rounded teacher. At the same time, he has chosen to put energy into teaching that should perhaps be way out into his family life, and particularly his deaf son, who he has never learned to communicate with properly.Following this production, in which he encourages a young woman to follow her talent to bleak York instead of working at her fami lys restaurant, he has a revelation more or less his family and son. His son, Coltrane, confronts him about his thinking that Cole, as a deaf person, cant appreciate music.This spurred Glen to learn ways he could incorporate new methods (specifically using illuminations to play movements during a concert) into his teaching and performing. In an interview 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 love 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 demonstrate the unique career development process of teachers. As Pam Grossman points out in her article about the profession of teaching and the challenges facing it, thither 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. untimely 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 exactly 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 combined with his love of teaching itself that has touched so many young lives. Teaching may not always glide by to monetary riches, but in Mr. Hollands life it has led to a multitude of personal and professional riches.ReferencesGrossman, P. (2003, January/February). Teaching From A Nation at attempt to a professionat risk? Harvard Education Letter. Retrieved April 14, 2008Herek, S. (Director). (1995). Mr. Hollands Opus DVD. Hollywood Buena Vista HomeEntertainment/Hollywood Pictures.Only a teacher Interview 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.