At the Southern Oregon Historical Society, we are currently in the process
of revamping a number of exhibits in our Children's Museum.  We wanted to
take a more interactive approach with numerous hands-on exhibits, but some
have questioned what this really accomplishes.  So we thought to
ourselves "hey, the Children's Museum ought to have its own mission
statement."  Then someone asked the brilliant question, "why teach history
to children?"  Someone suggested that teaching history is really only
valuable to show chidren that things change; the facts of history
really aren't all that important.  I was not satisfied with this answer
and said that the mere fact of change isn't enough.  Some motivating force
initiates that change.  Still we feel dissatisfied.  Some of us think
that history really doesn't teach much and that the "lessons of history"
often go ignored.  History museums are for entertainment.  On the other
hand, others of us think there are valuable lessons tp be learned
but were at a loss to explain how this is accomplished.  What do you
think?  We're looking for input on this subject as well as for ideas about
where to research this.
 
Thank you for your input.
-Matt Strieby
Exhibits design assistant
Southern Oregon Historical Society
106 N. Central
Medford OR 97501