Perhaps you could talk to a social studies curriculum coordinator for a
local school district to get on the schedule, even for five minutes, to
present your museum at a teacher inservice training day - probably the day
or two before school starts for the students. I was actually lucky enough to
get a whole session with 4th and 5th grade social studies teachers for our
school system and could interact with a whole group of teachers at once.
It's too early to tell for sure, but it seemed extremely effective.   

Pamela Carter
Local History and Public Outreach Specialist
Bossier Parish Central Library Historical Center
2206 Beckett St.
Bossier City, LA 71111
(318) 746-7717 ph.
(318) 746-7768 fax


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Susannah West
Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 4:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] contacting schools

With the new school year approaching, I'm planning on contacting schools and
pointing out the value of a field trip to the Rankin House.    Since my
budget for this project is non-existent, I can't afford to send out an
information packet to each school.  So my thought was that I could send a
postcard with a photograph of the Rankin House and a brief message to each
school I target.  Who would it be best to address the card to:  the
principal?  Or to specific teachers, like fourth grade teachers (since Ohio
history is usually taught in 4th grade)?  7th grade social studies teachers?
American History teachers?  The message would invite them to send for an
information packet if they'd like more information.  I will probably be
sending out cards to schools in a three or four county area; do you think I
should send cards to schools which faithfully come to the Rankin House as
well as ones who haven't, or just concentrate on schools that haven't
visited? Should I perhaps concentrate more on private or Christian schools
as opposed to public schools?  ( I observe that these schools often seem to
be more flexible about field trips and more able to work them into their
schedules.)  I am sure this topic has been discussed in great detail in the
past; perhaps you can point me to specific messages in the archives that I
should read.  Thanks so much.

Susannah West
tour guide
John Rankin House (home of abolitionist John Rankin, 1793-1886) Ripley, Ohio

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