Fake Field Trips

I'm conflicted about this trend. I recognize that these outreach trips might likely be the only museum exposure many kids ever have. That still doesn't mean that this practice is the best solution. The only thing that can capture the wonder of walking into a cavernous exhibition hall filled with fascinating artifacts is actually doing it. In addition to sacrificing the visceral excitement of being around museum artifacts, there is a risk that a poorly-executed outreach trip could permanently turn students off from future museum visits. This is yet one more area where the encouragement of curiosity is being eroded from our society.

Texas

A must-see:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
I's on Edjukashun - Texas School Board - Eric Foner
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care reform

Brain Food

The V&A has so many great talks coming up! How I'd love to be in London right now...

Deacce$$ioning

An extremely disturbing article about loosening deaccessioning regulations to allow the sale of museum objects to finance operating costs and new construction: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/opinion/02dobrzynski.html?scp=2&sq=deaccessioning&st=cse

No good will ever come of this.