Why not communicate with the skaters and find out why they are using your property.  You may find that you can reach a compromise with them and turn them into potential supporters.  Remember, they are part of your community, and they may have needs that can be met by the services of the museum.  Just an idea.

 

Jon West-Bey

Associate Curator for Collections and Programs

National Museum of American Jewish Military History

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Merri Pemberton [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 9:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Problems with skateboarders on the museum property

 

I have read some of the stories about the skateboarder problems. I understand that these kids should have a place to skateboard, and that some of the museum employees who wrote about this problem wanted to find a peaceful solution, but shouldn't this problem be handled more firmly, whereas you give fair warning to the skateboarders to not use the museum facilities as a playground, and if you disregard this rule, you will have to  face a punishment e.g. pay a fine, parents or children; or do community service), and if that doesn't work, then maybe the authorities should talk to the parents of these children.

    A business, especially a museum with some of its artwork outside, must be firm in dealing with these kids, and not have to cater to their every whim - especially when not dealing with the educational purposes of the museum. As a former teacher assistant and teacher, I know for a fact that if us adults don't set boundaries, even to something like skateboarding on the museum's grounds, then they won't learn to respect the museum as a special place of education, not to be used as a stomping ground, or at least not respect it as quickly.

    Unfortanately, some of the children -not all of them- may not be getting the discipline and boundaries that they need at home (another close observation of a teacher/assistant teacher), so the rest of the adult society have to sometimes bear the brunt. Well,  I must be going.

Sincerely,

Merri