Ginny Cass wrote:
>
> Orrie Crews wrote:
> >   If children are to feel
> > important then they must feel recognized and respected.  Surely you
> > don't expect  adults and children to communicate on the same level.  So
> > why then should museums communicate to both children and adults on one
> > level.
> >
> > I am in favor of kid-friendly labeling because information presented on
> > the child's level develops a child's self-esteem and awareness.
> >
> > it's not about labeling; it's about esteem building in
> > children.
>
> I would have thought it was about education.
>
> I have to disagree with much of what you say here.  I don't communicate
> with children (my own or those I worked with in the school district when
> I was employed as Service Learning Program Coordinator) on a lower
> *level*  because I know they are capable of understanding what I have to
> say given an opportunity.  When they are talked down to, in simplistic
> language because of lowered expectations, they will respond on that
> level.  Expect more from children and you will get more.  Provide
> learning opportunities and children will soak it all up as fast as you
> can give it.  (There are obvious exceptions here based on individual
> variation and ability - I am thinking of the *average* child of school
> age - five and up.)
>
> I would assume that your employer wants you to provide an educational
> opportunity in the institution.  If I was doing a special label project
> with children in mind, I would probably leave the current labels in
> place and add a panel entitled "What does it mean?" with definitions of
> words used on the current labels (useful to both adults and children who
> aren't familiar with the nomenclature, jargon, or whatever you want to
> call the specialized language used.)
>
> In my experience, children are best respected by treating them as
> equals.  My eleven year old daughter's comments regarding your first
> paragraph as quoted here are "It doesn't make them feel respected, it's
> demeaning."
>
> I respect your right to be concerned about children's self esteem, and I
> share your concerns to some degree,  but I feel this (a museum education
> program) is not the proper context for it.
>
> o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
>
> Ginny Cass

Further to my previous message about our Children's labels:  They are
also intended for the intellectually challenged.  Do that say anything
about whether or not we are "Talking down" to kids when we simplify?
--
Bob Handy, Director
Brazoria County Historical Museum
Angleton, Texas
http://www.bchm.org