Being an art teacher...which is more important? Art or Teaching? Do you need to be an artist to be an art teacher?

While both are important, I believe teaching is more essential. Being a good artist doesn't guarantee that you will also be a good teacher. Similarly, if you are a skilled athlete, you won't necessarily be a good coach. Knowing how to paint or sculpt doesn't mean you are able to teach it successfully to students. It's essential to know how to teach the material. You need to have knowledge of how children learn and grow in order to teach them. 



Its important to know your material. I believe if most parents had the option to have their child taught by from someone who was merely interested in the subject, or by a practicing expert, most would choose the practicing artist. It isn't one hundred percent necessary but to me it seems most advantageous. You wouldn't send your child who needed brain surgery to someone who was merely interested in medicine as opposed to a brain surgeon.