Aaron, I certainly agree this is more often than not a major issue.  Perhaps you could come up with a checklist of major mythology that you are aware of, and make sure the docents are aware of these tales and that they should avoid them.  
Working for a small history museum, I can already think of any number of these stories I would include in such a list.  Although I am sure you'll still have some doozies slip through I think preparedness is your best line of defense.
Candace Perry


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aaron Preston
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 11:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Thoughts on Docent Training

I am forming a new volunteer training course.  Below is a general description of one minor problem I have dealt with at a former museum.  Any thoughts on ways to guard against this?  I never want to ask the docent to be the expert, that is the job of the staff, however, I would  interested in hearing others opinions on this...  

Though some volunteers are "lifelong learners," after the course is over, volunteers  tend to know only so much as is necessary to deal with the tours for which they are responsible and the questions the tours typically stimulate.  Once a volunteer has worked at an institution for a while s/he tends to “get comfortable” and the volunteer is less provoked to learn about the subject matter on his or her own.   This can result in a kind of patch-work tour, a version complete with largely accurate information taught in the training class, mixed with popular myth, and even misinformation.  Over time, I feel the information in the structured training classes can become distorted like a big game of telephone.

​

Aaron Preston

Education Director
Cherokee Strip Regional
Heritage Center
507 S. 4th St.
Enid, Oklahoma
73701

(580) 237-1907 ext. 226
[log in to unmask]

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