The Two Kinds of "E" Words

I have many fond memories of the years I spent as a volunteer and living historian with the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tempe. It was a real watershed event of my life and a time I look back upon and truly miss. One of the things I liked best was helping out with exhibit openings and special events, like Reenactor's Rendezvous.

But as much as we museum folks enjoyed it, it seemed nearly impossible to get the public to show up at these events in big numbers. The museum had a full-time publicist back then, and she always went the extra mile to get the word out about what we were doing. But as hard as we tried we just couldn't seem to generate much public interest, except for one time, and I'll explain that in a minute.

I think the real problem we had was the fact that our mission was to "educate" the public. And even if we didn't use that particular "E" word in the press releases, it was implied nonetheless. And words like "educate" and "education" are dirty words to a lot of people. They are synonyms for "boring!" It makes their eyes glaze over and conjures up memories of being back in school. People don't want to be "educated." They want to be "entertained."

I don't call myself an educator. I am an "edutainer." That word "edutainment" was coined in the museum community a few years back because someone figured out that the best way to "educate" the public is to "entertain" them while you're at it.

I try to be as entertaining as possible, whether it be as a storyteller, or with my books. Imagine that. Writing a series of books about two modern day kids who travel back in time as a vehicle to teach history. I've raised the hackles of academic historians in the past by doing this, and no doubt I'll do so again in the future. While they may be very credible and very well educated people they just can't get the concept that the average Joe really doesn't give a rip about the straight historical facts or if our period outfits are 100% accurate. To him that's "boring." He just wants to be entertained. So if I have to disguise my historical education as entertainment so be it. At least I got the job done.

As for that one museum exhibit opening that really drew in the crowds -- it was the opening of the Wallace & Ladmo gallery. Wallace and Ladmo were local entertainers and pioneers in Phoenix television history. They hosted a children's TV show that ran for 35 years. Again, it just goes to prove that most people want to be "entertained;" not "educated."

My thought for the day.

GM