That's a pretty broad, open-ended question. In what context are these
high school students there? What's the topic? What kinds of questions
are they being asked to ask about the exhibits? Are they being
challenged to interpret the exhibits in their own terms or being asked
to listen to someone else drone on using some standard tour? High
school students can be a tough audience, but they are also old enough
to grapple with more complex issues than younger students. So, I
guess if what you're talking about is if there is any way to keep
high school students interested in an exhibit that otherwise has
no relevance to them or their studies, I would say pretty much no...
I mean why should they pay attention to the museum unless the museum
has paid attention ahead of time to the perspectives and needs of the
students.
 
Ed Pershey
Tsongas Industrial History Center
Lowell, MA