The Maker's Playbook

Ep 517: Being a Pottery Educator with Ian Childers

July 05, 2024 Season 5 Episode 130
Ep 517: Being a Pottery Educator with Ian Childers
The Maker's Playbook
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The Maker's Playbook
Ep 517: Being a Pottery Educator with Ian Childers
Jul 05, 2024 Season 5 Episode 130

In an internet world where there are seemingly endless “educators” available to learn from, what actually qualifies someone to teach a skill? Is it a traditional piece of paper, or diploma, saying that some institution has decided you can? Is it the number of years you’ve been doing the thing? Frankly, there’s really not a fixed formula we can say where x+ y = qualified educator! However, during this chat with Ian Childers, a potter who, as often happens, fell into education by necessity and yet has found a passion for it, I’ve found a few thru lines and a couple of Ian’s philosophies I wholeheartedly agree with - namely, the fact that he’s not only teaching his students a skill set to hypothetically go make a living at this craft, he is also showing his students what it takes to make a living at this craft. As Ian says during our chat, how can he expect his students to trust him if he’s not out there doing it himself? And that I couldn’t agree more with.


Guest Resources:
Ian Childers Instagram - @ianchilders

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Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Have questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Show Notes Chapter Markers

In an internet world where there are seemingly endless “educators” available to learn from, what actually qualifies someone to teach a skill? Is it a traditional piece of paper, or diploma, saying that some institution has decided you can? Is it the number of years you’ve been doing the thing? Frankly, there’s really not a fixed formula we can say where x+ y = qualified educator! However, during this chat with Ian Childers, a potter who, as often happens, fell into education by necessity and yet has found a passion for it, I’ve found a few thru lines and a couple of Ian’s philosophies I wholeheartedly agree with - namely, the fact that he’s not only teaching his students a skill set to hypothetically go make a living at this craft, he is also showing his students what it takes to make a living at this craft. As Ian says during our chat, how can he expect his students to trust him if he’s not out there doing it himself? And that I couldn’t agree more with.


Guest Resources:
Ian Childers Instagram - @ianchilders

Love this podcast? Support an episode! Click here to learn more.

Follow The Maker's Playbook on Instagram @themakersplaybook

Have questions about the show or want to say Hi? Email us at: podcast (at) makers-playbook (dot) com

Ian Childers
Welcome to the Podcast: A Casual Introduction
The Journey from Potter to Educator: Ian's Story
The Intersection of Tattoos and Pottery: A Personal Exploration
Navigating Artistic Residencies and Personal Growth
Challenges and Triumphs in Mississippi's Education System
Staying Culturally Relevant: The Art of Teaching
Second part?
Navigating the Balance: Pottery, Teaching, and Personal Time
The Shift to Slipcasting and Seasonal Production Strategies
The Impact of Social Media and the Value of Juried Shows
Reflections on Career, Community, and the Ceramics Industry