An arts teacher is one who views education as essential to a morally conscientious society and critical thinking as essential to education. Whereas all subjects taught at the high-school level help shape critical thinking in one way or another, I have found art to provide a clear relationship between content and the kind of self reflection and expression necessary to make intelligent and reasoned choices. As an educator, I strive to develop these ideals in my students by providing them with the foundations for artistic thinking. Art is defined by its material realization of challenging concepts, and my students learn how to generate such ideas, how to sketch, plan, and create their works, and how to reflect upon as they critique them in concert with their peers.