Hi Christine!
Christine Dwyer wrote:
> What
ratio do you use for groups -- 1:5, 1:10, 1:x?
> How strictly do you
enforce your policy? Have you
> refused a group for insufficient
supervision?
Joslyn Art Museum has a "School Tours" web page
(accessible from our "Educator Resources + Outreach"). It reads, in
part:
In order to maintain a
suitable teaching environment,
large groups are divided into smaller groups
of
10-15 students, depending on
gallery space.
[Docent-led] School
groups must be accompanied
at all
times by a teacher or adult for every
10
students. Self-guided groups
must provide one
adult chaperone
per seven students. These
chaperones assist with supervision of
groups
throughout their museum
visit and are admitted
free of
charge. Additional adults may
accompany
the tour at the adult
group rate.
[See: http://www.joslyn.org/teach/schooltours.html]
Have we
refused anyone? Not since I've been at Joslyn; however we say, in a cheery
tone, "But next time we hope you will!"
It is rare for a school to be unable to entice enough chaperones
(whether teachers or parents). I observe that, in our few cases, the
schools are located in economically downtrodden areas of the city. We
understand that parents cannot always sacrifice a day's wage just to accompany
their child's school trip to a museum. The need for decorum and safety
should, in my view, be measured against common sense and compassion.
Feel
free to contact me directly with further questions.
Sincerely,
Jay
Heuman
Visitor & Volunteer Services Coordinator
Joslyn Art
Museum
2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68102
342-3300
(telephone) 342-2376 (fax)
www.joslyn.org
"You can't lock up art in a vault and keep it frozen
for posterity. Then the artist is betrayed, history is betrayed."
(Walter
Persegati)