7 Things the movie Hook can teach about teaching

Have you ever dreamt about flying? I love the idea of flying. Perhaps, that is why Peter Pan was always an attractive hero for me growing up. I also love going to movies in the theater. I can remember vividly going to the theater with my family and getting ready to be wowed by the spectacle. Putting these two things together, I think it makes sense that I loved the movie Hook. One of my favorite scenes comes at the end when Peter, (played by Robin Williams) answers his phone, asks his boss about flying and then flings it away in a carefree manner.

We can learn a lot from the movie about teaching.

1. Have fun

The beginning of the movie shows Peter Pan all grown up and very boring. Now, does an adult life really have to be all about the bottom line and completely devoid of any entertainment value? It is the fundamental question of the Peter Pan story. Kids do not want to grow up and stay in Neverland, precisely because of their fear of growing up. Peter has to learn to have fun. Teachers should portray that they are happy. How else would kids ever want to be one?

2. Be true to yourself

Once he gets into the magic of Neverland, Peter has a close encounter with Tinkerbell. She makes a wish and suddenly is human-size, able to be eye-to-eye with Peter Pan, her longtime crush apparently. The moment gets ahold of him, but soon he remembers that his true love is his wife and he does not want to betray her in any way. You have to stand to something or you will fall for anything. Teachers should portray strong personal values.

3. Be true to your roots

Peter does not even remember that he was Peter Pan before. It seems he has forgotten his young life before arriving at the orphanage his wife’s grandmother had founded. But part of Peter Pan will always be in Neverland, and a big part of the movie is a portrayal of how he comes into touch with his roots.

4. See what the kids see

Hands-down, my favorite scene from the movie is the food fight. Now, it is not that I am a big fan of disorder and mayhem, but I love how it is the moment when Peter learns to see reality. He had been adamant that the Lost Boys were only seeing things. He was unable to admit the value of anything they were doing, writing it all off to “make-believe.” But when he takes a spoon of imaginary colored mashed potatoes and hurls it at Rufio, he suddenly becomes a kid again and is able to see what they see. “You are playing, Peter”. Peter Pan has returned, because he understands the Lost Boys once again. Teachers should learn to see what the kids see.

5. Be a leader

Following close on the food-fight, Peter Pan has to fight with Rufio to see who will be the leader of the Lost Boys. Peter draws a line in the sand with his sword. He has accepted who he is and knows he has to lead the Lost Boys, if he is ever to recover his own children from the evil clutches of Captain Hook. He knows he is supposed to be the leader and rises to the task. Teachers should be leaders of their classrooms.

6. Win over the toughest one

Peter had a hard time convincing Rufio, perhaps because he had a hard time convincing himself. But soon, he was able to overcome his own self-doubt and worked hard to win Rufio to his own side. He knew that it would be hard, but never gave up. In the end, in order to lead the group best, he had to win over the toughest one. Teachers should always try to win by attraction.

7. Never grow up

Obviously, this last lesson has to be taken with a grain of salt. If growing up means a static life of boring phone calls and slaving away in meaningless jobs, it must be avoided at all costs. Teachers would do well to waken the inner child and to never grow up.