What Makes Teachers Heroes With A Thousand Faces

Teachers are heroes. You’ve heard that many times. Joseph Campbell theorized in “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” that a hero’s journey is a universal story that applies to all people, including teachers. Let’s explore how the journey of a teacher compares to the hero’s journey, using practical examples to illustrate the similarities.

What Makes Teachers Heroes With A Thousand Faces

1- The Call to Adventure

For a hero, the call to adventure is often a crisis event that disrupts their everyday life: Harry Potter receives a letter from Hogwart, while Neo receives a cryptic message about the Matrix. For a teacher, the call to adventure can come in many forms: a challenging group, a new, unfamiliar subject, or a job offer. 

The call to adventure is the start of the story, it forces teachers to step outside their comfort zone, but it is also an opportunity for growth.

The small story:

I was enjoying the quiet life of a teacher in Sweden: planning, marking, and questioning my impact on children, when the assistant principal announced an opening: they needed a HoD for the MFL department. 

2- Refusal to the Call

In the hero’s journey, the hero often refuses the call to adventure because they are afraid or unsure of their abilities. Similarly, a teacher may refuse the call to adventure because they are afraid of failure or unsure of their ability to succeed. In Harry Potter, it’s actually the Dursleys who refuse it. They do not want Harry to become anything different. As for Neo, if he initially follows the white rabbit, he refuses to go down the rabbit hole; he is hesitant. 

The small story:

Before this HoD opening, I had spent years focusing on teaching and avoiding leadership responsibilities at school. Partly because I enjoyed teaching and the freedom of a simple life and partly because I feared the lack of maturity and knowledge to take on a leadership position. Therefore, my first reaction was to close the email announcing the opening. 

3- Meeting the Mentor

In the hero’s journey, the hero meets a mentor who provides guidance and support on their journey. Similarly, a teacher may encounter a mentor who can provide guidance and support in their teaching journey. Harry’s first mentor is Hagrid, a lovable, beardy, and goofy guide who will physically take him out of the Dursleys’ claws. The mentor could be a living person, a creature, or a memory. Neo can escape agent Smith thanks to Morpheus, who guides him over the phone. 

The small story:

After having dismissed the HoD opening, I returned to my daily teaching routine; but at night, my wife surprised me with a fine dining experience. And as I finished my plate, she reminded me that each grain of rice left on my plate was a missed opportunity. 

4- Crossing the Threshold

In the hero’s journey, the hero crosses the threshold into the unknown, leaving their familiar world behind. Harry makes it to the 9 ¾ platform, and Neo chooses the red pill: there is no way back. Similarly, a teacher may cross the threshold by taking on the original challenge. 

The small story:

After sleeping on it, my decision was taken: no grain of rice would be left on my plate. And so, I wrote my application and clicked send. There was no way back. 

5. Trial and Tribulations

In the hero’s journey, the hero faces trials and tribulations that test their strength and character. Harry adjusts to life at Hogwarts, and Neo is trained by Morpheus. Similarly, a teacher may face challenges in the classroom, such as managing difficult students or adapting to a new curriculum. 

The small story:

I have never been scared of job interviews, as I see them as reciprocal. The school might need me, but I might not be the one they need for that specific position. Similarly, I need a school, but it might not be the right one for me. And so I went for the interview with nothing but honesty. I answered a couple of questions and asked some.

6- The ultimate Boon

It is the reward that the hero receives after completing the journey. For a teacher, it can take the form of a student’s success who, after struggling with a subject, achieves a breakthrough, a promotion. The most satisfying ultimate boon is the feedback from students who, years later, tell us how we help them become who they are now. Harry receives the philosopher’s stone, and Neo becomes The One. 

The small story:

A couple of days later, between two lessons, I opened an email announcing that I was appointed HoD. 

7- The Return Home

The hero returns home to the status quo with the elixir, the new knowledge or wisdom. He is a better version of himself and has a whole new perspective of the world surrounding him. 

The small story:

Back home, it was my turn to treat my wife to dinner, and as we spoke, I explained to her how her allegory on opportunities made me apply for the position. 

Takeaways:

Just like a hero, teachers receive the call to adventure, face challenges, meet a mentor and ultimately achieve the ultimate boon. And in the end, he can return home with new knowledge, ability, or wisdom, ready to continue the work of shaping young minds. But it does not end here; soon, like all heroes, the teacher-hero will receive a new call to adventure.

If you want to read more about heroism in teaching, check that post about Super Supply Teachers.