Phantom Tollbooth

In my time as an elementary educator, I have never found a book that students relate to more than The Phantom Tollbooth. The character of a boy named Milo who wastes time and is incurious about the world around him is very relatable to many children. Especially in this modern age where everything that a child could ever need for entertainment is just an iPad swipe away, the importance of exploring language and equations can seem trivial. But one thing that will always be true about children is their excitement at the idea of adventure, and Milo’s unexpected trip in his toy car to the lands beyond is instantly captivating. Students eventually find out, however, that what appears as a simple adventure story, carries a profound message about the importance of a love of learning.

There are two messages in this play that I have always held as profound truths. Number one: “What you can do, is often only a question of what you will do.” We learn in childhood what is still true as adults, that putting our minds to a task and working hard is the only way to accomplish anything. Number two: “You must never feel badly about making mistakes, as long as you take the trouble to learn from them. Very often you learn more from being wrong for the right reasons, than from being right for the wrong ones.” In order to develop a love of learning, students must embrace all mistakes as opportunities for new growth. In education, theatre, and life, I have learned far more from my failures than any of my successes.