I forward this message by Betty Kam, Bishop Museum Archives Chairman, as
follow up to the discussion on this list of using primary resources with
high school students.  History Day is a national program encouraging this
type of use; Hawaii is new to the program but doing very well capturing
some national  recognition.  Bishop Museum awards a prize on the
state level.
 
Anita Manning, Vice President, Assistant Director - Collections Management
 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 1994 12:24:42 +22305714 (HST)
From: Betty Kam <[log in to unmask]>
To: Anita Manning <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Use of manuscripts with high schools students (fwd)
 
Anita,
 
Just a comment.  What we have noticed here in Hawaii is that most of the
TEACHERS themselves don't know (or remember) how to use primary
documentation.  A couple of years ago we did a workshop for teachers
creating theme boxes which contained copies of primary source materials
from our collections.  The teachers got together in groups, inspected the
contents of the boxes, discussed to understand which bits of info were
signficant, then did a presentation (skits, reports, ets) to the larger
group on the subject covered.  A good experience for the teachers.  I did
this same workshop on island of Hawaii and also on Maui as a part of the
History Day program.  Well received.
 
The theme boxes contained copies of manuscript (letters, portions of journals,
reports, etc.) photographs, postcards, audio, video, maps -- we made no
comment on which material would be insignificant, which important.
 
By far, it is the harder task to get the teachers to come up with programs
to introduce this kind of research to the students.  And this is because
so many of the teachers are bound to their textbooks.
 
Betty.