Teachers in Star Wars: An Honest Look

Star Wars is about Teachers

A while back, StarWars.com ran a quiz called about which teacher you would be in Star Wars. The quiz paired me with Tobias Beckett, a character from Solo. It did get me thinking about teachers in Star Wars. 

Let’s face it: Every Jedi/Sith is a teacher. In fact, in the saga, the master/apprentice relationship is more important than the parent/child relationship. This is mainly because Jedis separates children from their parents. However, in certain cultures, this is actually the norm.

Being a teacher is a difficult profession. We are both teachers. There is no product or bottom line. You are dealing with actual lives. This is true in the real world and fictional universes. No teacher is perfect, not even ones who have Force abilities.

Teachers in Star Wars

Yoda:  Yoda never really tells you the objective of the lesson.  He is more of a discovery-learning type of teacher.  He has a well-planned lesson, but the pupil is responsible for figuring it out. This is great for motivated, patient students, but learners who need lots of redirection could have a problem. His flaw lies in his tendency to be overly cautious and hesitant to adapt to changing circumstances, a trait that sometimes blinds him to new possibilities.

Obi-Wan: Obi is an involved teacher.  He will do the lesson with the student but not do it for the student.  He trusts the student as a team member. This is great, but sometimes students need more discipline. Yet, his flaw lies in his adherence to the Jedi Code and his sometimes rigid interpretation of its principles, which can lead to conflicts of conscience and missed opportunities for personal growth. Still, I think Obi-Wan is the closest to the ideal teacher in Star Wars.

Palpatine:  He is that professor who doesn’t care about his students at all, only his career.  They do the research, and he takes the credit. He forgets who you are as soon as the semester is over unless other academics start to notice you.  Then he destroys you and your career.

Ashoka: From what we have seen, she is a motivated new teacher. She’s resourceful and knows how to think on her feet, which makes up for her lack of planning. She also mirrors the new teacher, who is crushed by the system and leaves within the first five years. However, as we see in the series, she is finding her inner peace as we see her go from Ashoka the Gray to Ashoka the White.

Luke:  His pupils turned on him. Was it a really bad class, or did he lack management skills? Or was it the fact that he never had a mentor stay around long enough? Plus, he only learned in a home-school environment, so doing a whole class/school was beyond his education. Yet, because he has the life experiences, those that he does reach realize how truly inspiring he can be. So much so that his reputation spreads to those who only dream of meeting him.

Kanan: He is the kind of teacher who takes every piece of criticism as a way to improve. He doesn’t discard it, even if it comes from a student. Kanan always examines how he can become better. He talks to a mentor to improve. Every year, he gets better at it. Kanan imparts the lessons of resilience, courage, and sacrifice. However, his flaw lies in his struggle with doubt and fear, stemming from his traumatic past and the weight of his responsibilities as a teacher and leader.

Qui-Gon Jin: He is the rebel teacher who plays fast and loose with the rules.  He doesn’t do anything to get fired, but if he agrees with the administration, he will do it his way. The students love him, so they don’t snitch.

Tobias Beckett: He is all about his objectives, not so much the class. If they learn something, fine, but at the end of the day, did he do what he wanted to do? Beckett teaches the harsh realities of the galaxy, where trust is a rare commodity and betrayal lurks around every corner.

What is Your Teacher Type?

In the vast tapestry of the Star Wars saga, the influence of teachers reverberates across time and space, shaping the destinies of heroes and villains alike. From the serene wisdom of Yoda to the pragmatic realism of Tobias Beckett, their teachings leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those they guide. As we reflect on their legacies, may we find inspiration to embrace the light within us and guide others on the path to greatness, learning from both their wisdom and their flaws?

Since it had been a while since I first got Tobias Beckett, I decided to take the quiz again. The quiz’s name is Which Star Wars Character Should Be Your Teacher? This time, I didn’t get Tobias; I instead got my favorite character in Star Wars: Obi-Wan.

However, I really think I’m trying to be more like Kanan each year.

Now, all of my thoughts are based on the movies and TV series. I plan on finding more time to read the books and comics we have stacked on the shelves. I’m not sure how Qui-Gon will change after Master and Apprentice.

When I do, I might have to do a revised version of this post.

Let’s Talk

What do you think? What kind of teacher do the Jedi and the Sith remind you of? Are there any I am missing? How does this apply to the sequel trilogy? Don’t worry about spoiling the books; let’s talk about it in the comments!

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