I agree with Deb. Talking to the teachers face-to-face is the best way to
get your information out. I schedule a brief orientation with the principal
at a faculty meeting a few weeks after school starts. Luckly, I'm in a small
town and don't have that many schools to attend. At the meeting, I hand out
our program brochure and/or flyers of events. I also bring examples of
programs and hands-on activities. To add a little fun to the meeting, I have
a door prize of teacher "goodies".

I have found this method it to be extremely successful.

Jennifer Rogers, Education Director
Texas Maritime Museum
1202 Navigation Circle
Rockport, TX 78382
[log in to unmask]
361-729-1271

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Deb Fuller
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 9:19 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] contacting schools


On 8/21/06, M Martin <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Now, our public schools are more disorganized than they should be, so
> that was part of the problem. You'd think that contacting teachers
> directly would solve the problem, but we got no response from previous
> letter campaigns and email campaigns, so it's more than just poor
> communication.

It's a matter of teacher time. When I was teaching, we got all sorts
of crap in our mailboxes and there just wasn't time to sift through
all of it. Plus, department heads and curriculum specialists got even
more crap which never got filtered down to the teachers. There is very
little incentive with tight budgets and teaching requirements to try
out new field trips, esp. when they must be tied to the curriculum.

So the best way to get in touch with teachers is to talk to them
directly in person. Getting on the schedule at the next teacher's
meeting is a good suggestion, esp. if you do it at the beginning of
the year when they are planning their field trips. Concisely sum up
how your programs fit in with the required curriculum or even offer to
host a free inservice day for teachers at your museum. If you should
teachers how you can help them, they will be more willing to do field
trips. Offering to bring the museum to their school is also a good
route to go as well. Field trips require permission slips, busses to
schedule, subs to cover classes, and chaperones for the trip. Doing an
in-school program only requires gathering the kids up to the
auditorium or moving them to a classroom.

deb

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