Teacher Zealots

An Unabridged Shakespeare teacher zealot is someone who disapproves of any other teacher employing any text but unabridged ones. Zealots have a need to rule their schools. Shakespearean zealots, like most zealots don’t really understand their religion. If they did they would realize the plays are drama, and supposed to change with changing audiences. Shakespeare massaged some of his plays for 15 years. Zealots simply dig in their heels at 1623, the First Folio, and refuse to budge. Like most zealots they also give equal weight to every word in their bibles. They never think, maybe a modern audience really doesn’t have to hear that bit.  It never crosses their minds. This might sound harsh but zealots are very unimaginative people. Shakespeare lived his whole life with actors, constantly fixing this and that. Zealots would have bored him.

When zealots are the Head of English they might actively block any fellow teachers attempting to purchase the Shakespeare Out Loud series. If the teacher secures texts, they will then be ridiculed. Once the series start working well and the students are excited about their oral accomplishments, the zealot might lose some status and become quite ruthless. All the useless and dull Shakespeare trivia the zealot has been collecting over the years becomes irrelevant when other teachers are crowing about the oral accomplishments and excitement of their Out Loud students.

I have been treated appallingly on several occasions by Shakespearean zealots, individuals who might possess ¼ of my Shakespearean knowledge. It is understandable because zealots wear an unearned mantle and they know it. Pontificating counts for nothing in the theatre; craft does. You talented Shakespeare Out Loud teachers, beware the wrath of zealots. Zealots are not true theatre people or even very good teachers. Zealots want to teach what they supposedly know, not what each student needs to learn.