Exploring the Intersections of Political Science and English Language Arts
Maryarita Kobotis is a student in Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Education program, with a concentration in Secondary Teaching - English in the School of Education and Social Policy.
Political activism has long been part of Maryarita Kobotis’ life. Throughout Kobotis’ high school years, she helped organize political events at her school, such as a school-wide walkout in response to the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Her passion for politics led her to major in political science at Northwestern University as an undergraduate, eventually adding a second major in psychology.
Kobotis was also drawn to teaching, however, and thought she might teach social science. But then, her love of reading resurfaced, and the answer was clear: she was going to be an English teacher.
“I was a really avid reader in middle school, but as I got busier with academics in high school, that fell away,” Kobotis said. “When I got back into reading near the end of undergrad, I realized how much I missed it.”
Now, as Kobotis contemplates her life as a future English teacher, she is considering how to meld her political science degree with her instruction. “The more you read, the more you learn about the world around you—that’s how you can become an informed citizen.” She says that whether it be short stories such as The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, which tackles politically relevant phenomena such as groupthink and conformity, or even romance novels, literature is a gateway to understanding society and human nature.
“That's one of the goals of education as well, to have our students come out the other side ready to fight for what they believe in,” Kobotis said. “That's why I think I find the English route so exciting.”
Kobotis is currently wrapping up her first year in the program and is already thinking ahead to next year’s master’s project. At the moment, she is considering a focus on diverse representation in literature, especially queer literature.
“As a queer person, I did not grow up with any kind of queer representation in any of my English classes,” Kobotis reflected. “If I had been exposed to that, I might have accepted myself sooner.”
Queer representation is a topic that is very close to Kobotis’ heart. “It’s a very scary time for queer and trans people, especially queer and trans folks of color.” As a future teacher in Illinois, Kobotis recognizes the privilege of living in a state that supports LGBTQIA+ inclusion. She plans to take advantage of the opportunity to create a supportive space in her classroom for all students with marginalized identities.
For Kobotis, teaching and activism go hand in hand. “To really be an effective teacher, we have to recognize that the current system of education actively works to oppress so many of our students who hold marginalized identities.” She concluded, “We have to build up these new ways of learning and community that really empower our students and give them the tools to learn about the world.”