Do you have a passion for art? If you have always loved to paint, draw or express yourself in other artistic ways, you may be considering pursuing a career as an art teacher. While this can certainly be a great career path for anyone with an interest in art, it is important for you to explore the pros and cons of becoming an art teacher before you decide if this is the right path for you.

Pro: Do What You Love Every Day

One of the obvious pros to becoming an art teacher is the fact that you get to do what you love every day. Furthermore, you get to help other artists cultivate their craft and discover the same love for art that you enjoy. For sure, there is nothing more rewarding than going to work every day knowing that you get to do something you love while also imparting your wisdom upon someone else.

On the other hand, while this may seem like a pro on the surface, it can actually turn into a negative. After all, art is something that is highly personal and that many people do in order to express themselves and to relax. As an art teacher, you might find yourself feeling overly restricted or you may experience creative blockages when doing art becomes a job rather than a hobby.

Con: Not All Students are Artists

While it may sound wonderful to shape the minds of dozens of eager artists, the reality is that you will likely find yourself working with plenty of students who do not have inherent artistic talents and who simply are not interested in learning. Working with those students who do not have a “gift” and trying to teach those who aren’t interested in art can be quite a challenge. In addition, it can become very frustrating.

On the other hand, if you are a teacher at heart, taking on a challenging student and helping him learn the joys of art or become a good artist can be quite satisfying. So, while being an art teacher can be very challenging, it can be equally as rewarding as well.

Pro: Teachers Enjoy Job Security

One pro of becoming a teacher is the fact that teachers enjoy a good amount of job security when compared to other professions. Once you have found a job and have obtained tenure, you are pretty much guaranteed to have a job year after year.

On the other hand, it can be difficult to find a position as an art teacher. Unfortunately, art programs are generally among the first to be cut when a school is experiencing budgeting problems. Not only can this make finding a job difficult, it can also make it difficult to make it through the first year and attain that oh-so-important tenure status.

Con: Mobile Teaching

One con to working as an art teacher is that you might find yourself having to work at several different schools. Or, if you work at only one school, you might not have your own classroom. Rather, you might have to cart your supplies from room to room and teach in the classroom teacher’s class instead.

On the other hand, even if you are forced to be a mobile teacher, art teachers generally get to interact with more students at the elementary level. Or, for those who teach at the high school level, your class roster may be limited to only those who show a true artistic talent. In addition, if you don’t have a classroom, you can take comfort in knowing that you don’t have to worry about art projects making your room a mess!