Superheroes have played a significant role in my understanding of education.
(written by Jen Van Meter, art by Cully Hamner)
My passion for education is surpassed only by three other passions in my life. In order, these are 1) my family, 2) Star Trek, and 3) Superheroes.
I have consistently written about my family in the years I have maintained this blog (and its sister “publication” And There Came a Day). They are the biggest influence on my life and the most important part of it.
I wrote about Captain Kirk and Star Trek and education in an earlier post in this volume of Teach and Serve. You can track it down!
So how do superheroes factor into my educational life?
Beyond the fact that I am sure that I love literature because I developed a love for comic books in the first grade, superheroes have played a significant role in my understanding of education. They continue to do so.
One of my favorite scenes from the 30 plus Marvel movies is actually in the maligned Iron Man 2. Tony Stark, genius, is working on devising a way to beat the virus infecting him. He has a three dimensional model of the problem before him. He is trying different permutations, struggling for an answer. That he will figure this all out is never in question. Watching him do it, however, is such fun. And, when he does, there is a euphoric release.
I love watching smart people do smart things. The comic book stories and superhero narratives I truly enjoy are less about the fighting and battles and more about the use of wisdom and knowledge, the working through things, the figuring out of issues.
There are hundreds of examples from comics. There are, perhaps, fewer from movies, but they are also there and are my favorite parts of the stories.
Beyond this, I have always been struck by superheroes who, in their civilian identities, are teachers and educators.
- Black Lightning – Jefferson Pierce was an inner city high school teacher who eventually became the Secretary of Education
- Professor X – Charles Xavier founded a school, for crying out loud! Many of the X-Men were teachers there. Wolverine, in fact, was once the headmaster.
- Spider-Man – Peter Parker has been a high school teacher as well.
- Huntress – Helena Bertinelli taught elementary school – she’s the real hero!
- The Atom – Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi (who have both been the Atom) are university professors.
- Mr. Fantastic – Reed Richards is one of the most respected teachers in the Marvel Universe.
With these kinds of influences running around my mind and occupying my imagination, how could I not find my way into education?