In a message dated 3/27/2003 3:32:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << Museums will always have subject matter experts around. They don't always have good educators. >> Deb, I have to disagree with that statement. It's ironic that after I read your post, the announcement about the massacre at the Museum of Northern Arizona came hot on its heels. There is an unfortunate trend in many museums to eliminate "subject matter expert" positions, from the extreme of abolishing entire curatorial departments to mere neglect, such as allowing professional positions to disappear through attrition. Indeed, one of the most prominent roving lecturers on museums (who shall remain nameless) told me privately that he thinks curators are obsolescent, "and not a minute too soon," he added. While I don't know if he articulates this to his far-flung audiences, I think it's a dangerous mindset. As museums increasingly emphasize "educators" (dare I call them "generalists"?) over "experts," the demand for museum scholars and qualified curators and collection managers with subject expertise tends to decrease, jeopardizing collections and altering the fundamental character of museums. In my own museum many curatorial positions have disappeared over the years, and entire collecting fields are struggling along without qualified staff to oversee them. We cannot assume that subject experts "will always be around." In many museums around the world they are increasingly considered irrelevant and museum scholars are becoming an endangered species. Museum education at the lower levels is important, but not, I think, at the expense of higher education and scholarship--and the qualified subject expertise needed to maintain high standards of collecting, collection care, and interpretation. David Haberstich National Museum of American History ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).