I have a few contradictory thoughts about these things.

I was always taught, "Don't touch things that aren't yours," but also taught
that "museums keep our things for all of us."  If it's mine, why can't I
touch it? (as a museum professional, I know why, but what if I wasn't?)

I was always taught, "Look with your eyes, not with your hands."  To this
day I have trouble with hands-on museums where things are supposed to be
touched.  I teach the same thing to my kids, but they have no such trouble.
Why?  What's different now?

I grew up outside of Washington, DC and regularly haunted the hallowed halls
of the Smithsonian, pretty much the local bastion of the 19th century
"inculcation of the middle-class ideal to the masses" theory (at least
during the 1960s and early 1970s).  I was impressed, awed, and silenced, but
I can't honestly say I learned anything specific outside of  "this is what
Art is."  For me, the brainwashing worked.

I decided early on to go into museum work because I wanted people to respect
what I respected, and thought ought to be respected.  Now, I don't think
respect is the main issue that museums are putting forth.  I think education
is (and should be) the main issue, and through education can come respect,
but also through education comes familiarity, and familiarity often breeds
contempt, not respect.  Why?

No response necessary, just wanted to get out some schizophrenic thoughts.

Julia Moore
Indianapolis Art Center