Reply from Kathrine Walker, Education Coordinator, Beach Museum of Art, 
Kansas State University

On Tue, 16 Sep 1997, JBLAIS wrote:

> I am currently preparing a paper to be given at the next Québec Museum
Association (Société des musées québécois) annual conference on the topic of
Museum educators as agent of social change.  I would like to address my fellow
colleagues on the list some important issues and see if your reactions differ
from my mine.  So, here it is:

1. Are educators in a position of contributing to the social changes of our
societies (through programmes, activities, etc.)?

Yes, yes, yes - witness programs for at-risk youth, art therapy programs, 
after school programmihng, the links with Goals 2000 ( in the U.S.)
The danger is that museum's can be become too much of a social service 
organization and in their eagerness to serve, loose sight of their mission.

 2. Can 
museums play such an important role?

3. How closely linked are the educators and their work in regard with the
political issues and the standpoint of their institutions?

Although objectivity is a  supposed goal of museums, all museums are 
subjective due to interpretation.  In addition, education departments 
often have a different agenda than museum boards, etc.

4. Can museum educators answer the needs and the contemporary problems of our
complex societies?  If so, are we that relevant, after all?
Ceertainly as a repository of culture we will be relevant as a record of 
society, regardless of what Museums are doing socially.

Thank you for your feedback.

Jean-Marc Blais
Senior Interpretive Planner
Canadian Museum of Civilization