>..."Learning in old age is writing on sand, but learning in youth=
 is engraving
>on stone."
...get reactions from around the nation (and the world) as to how=
 people
interpret this proverb. What do you think it means? How do you think=
 it can
be interpreted by others? What can we do to explain it better?
>
>Since this isn't really museum stuff, I'd appreciate if you replied=
 off-list to
>my e-mail address.


Maria,

I agree with someone's previous remark.  This is museum stuff, as=
 it has to
do with interpretation and audience, and many of us are interested=
 in
discussions like this as they correlate with what we each do at our=
 own
institutions.

I also agree with the basic interpretations offered so far, which=
 I
understand as:
 "learning in youth is difficult, but what is learned becomes a permanent
(so to speak) part of who an individual is; learning in old age is=
 easier,
but because of forgetfulness and death often does not last long."

But I would like to return to your question, "How can it be interpreted=
 by
others?".  Some may believe the quote implies that learning in old=
 age is
useless, and therefore react negatively to this implication.  Others=
 may
interpret it in ways none of us have even considered.  Others may=
 not want
to take the time to think about it at all.  One way you may be able=
 to help
the situation, and I would love to get other list members' reactions=
 to
this suggestion, is to provide some sort of comment book in a visible
location.  Ask visitors to write their comments:  What do they think=
 it
means?;  Do they agree?;  How does it make them feel?  If people=
 are
willing to respond, this could provide you with a healthy chunk of
information about how others really do interpret it.  Many people=
 will
probably be interested in reading what others wrote, and what they=
 read may
provide them with insight into their own interpretation.  It would=
 also
show that you're interested in what people think, which goes a long=
 way.=20
Along these same lines, many people, when offended, feel better when=
 they
are allowed to vent their frustrations where they know they will=
 be heard.=20
Indicating somehow that the notebook is read by staff  (ideas?) may=
 help
visitors (offended or not) know that someone really is listening.

At the Science Museum, we hosted a controversial exhibit in which=
 one of
the most popular exhibits was the reaction/comment book.  Visitors=
 would
spend inordinate amounts of time reading what others had written.

What do other list members think?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William H. Stirrat  (Bill)
Evaluator/Market Researcher              ? !
Our Minnesota Science Hall                  o
Science Museum of Minnesota          /( )\
30 East 10th Street                                    =87
St. Paul, MN  55101
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