Being and Art Teacher

Being an "Art Teacher", what is more important to you? Art or Teaching?

Teaching is by far the most important part of being an art teacher. The students come first and can learn a lot about art but also other subjects within my art class. Art is a very important part of learning. It can help the students be a well rounded individual and helps them transfer over to their right brain.  As a teacher I must guild my students in this as well as incorporate reading and writing.  The teaching part is the rewarding part, I am a teacher of art not an art teacher.

Do you need to be an artist to be an art teacher? 

To some degree, yes, you do need to be an artist to be an art teacher, you need to have the skill and knowledge that an artist has in order to teach an art class.  If you are unaware of what it means to be an artist than it will be very difficult for you to teach that subject.  I do not believe that your art should come before your students work.  It is about helping them discover their art and the meanings and aesthetics behind art so they can appreciate it whether they decide to pursue it in their futures or not.