>..."Learning in old age is writing on sand, but learning in youth=
is engraving
>on stone."
...get reactions from around the nation (and the world) as to how=
people
interpret this proverb. What do you think it means? How do you think=
it can
be interpreted by others? What can we do to explain it better?
>
>Since this isn't really museum stuff, I'd appreciate if you replied=
off-list to
>my e-mail address.
Maria,
I agree with someone's previous remark. This is museum stuff, as=
it has to
do with interpretation and audience, and many of us are interested=
in
discussions like this as they correlate with what we each do at our=
own
institutions.
I also agree with the basic interpretations offered so far, which=
I
understand as:
"learning in youth is difficult, but what is learned becomes a permanent
(so to speak) part of who an individual is; learning in old age is=
easier,
but because of forgetfulness and death often does not last long."
But I would like to return to your question, "How can it be interpreted=
by
others?". Some may believe the quote implies that learning in old=
age is
useless, and therefore react negatively to this implication. Others=
may
interpret it in ways none of us have even considered. Others may=
not want
to take the time to think about it at all. One way you may be able=
to help
the situation, and I would love to get other list members' reactions=
to
this suggestion, is to provide some sort of comment book in a visible
location. Ask visitors to write their comments: What do they think=
it
means?; Do they agree?; How does it make them feel? If people=
are
willing to respond, this could provide you with a healthy chunk of
information about how others really do interpret it. Many people=
will
probably be interested in reading what others wrote, and what they=
read may
provide them with insight into their own interpretation. It would=
also
show that you're interested in what people think, which goes a long=
way.=20
Along these same lines, many people, when offended, feel better when=
they
are allowed to vent their frustrations where they know they will=
be heard.=20
Indicating somehow that the notebook is read by staff (ideas?) may=
help
visitors (offended or not) know that someone really is listening.
At the Science Museum, we hosted a controversial exhibit in which=
one of
the most popular exhibits was the reaction/comment book. Visitors=
would
spend inordinate amounts of time reading what others had written.
What do other list members think?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William H. Stirrat (Bill)
Evaluator/Market Researcher ? !
Our Minnesota Science Hall o
Science Museum of Minnesota /( )\
30 East 10th Street =87
St. Paul, MN 55101
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