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My only problem with weapons and the portryal of violence in a historical cotext is the often jolly way it is done. It is treated as comedy rather than a serious issue. That is when people diassociate themselves from weapons being weapons rather than toys. For some reason it is acceptable to portray violent acts that happened in the middle ages as camp fun romps, yet we would not accept that in WW2 representations. But I fully support Tehmina's post. From: rebecca mileham <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: rebecca mileham <[log in to unmask]> Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:21:44 +0100 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Wooden weapons - schools instructed not to buy on site visits? Agreed we shouldn't sanitise history - for an adult audience. But I sometimes feel that the more gruesome aspects of the past do need to be handled carefully with a young audience, rather than promoted to the exclusion of all else, like some of the horrible histories books do. So, at Warwick Castle, I'm happy to watch the trebuchet being fired, and talk to my six-year-old about it. But I have never taken him into 'the torture chamber' and I steer clear of the unjolly 'rack' on which you can lie and have your photo taken. Rebecca. On 20/06/2008, Marcus Grainger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Well said Tehmina! We should not sanitize or veto aspects of history just to satisify our personal moral or ethical sensibilities. Our duty is to inform and educate. We should not justify, promote, rebute, ignore, or oppinionate any fact from the past. Marcus Grainger Education Officer Jersey Heritage -----Original Message----- From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Tehmina Goskar Sent: 20 June 2008 08:44 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Wooden weapons - schools instructed not to buy on site visits? I rather think all this is more a consequence of how different parts of modern society view 'weapons'. That is to say, that violence and willful harm, perhaps even sadistic tendencies evoked by weapons, their use and portrayal today is the reason many people do not, understandably, want their children to use them even in play. However isn't there a question of education here? Swords, catapults, bows and arrows through time have been used for hunting as well as warfare. Knives were and indeed _are_ practical tools whose primary purpose is not necessarily to mame or kill. Keeping kids away from wooden or other toy versions will not enable them to learn how to be responsible or what the dangers are if they are used wrongly. Schools who follow this kind of policy are doing a diservice to their children and to the future of society of they constantly demonise anything that could, possibly, be misconstrued, instead of providing a real _education_ (as distinct from schooling). If children understood better how 'weapons' were used in the past, how those societies used, respected and understood them, they will be far more likely to view such things with caution and responsibility. I worry about how this kind of thing is fueling fear and it is through fear that misunderstanding and misuse arise. Tehmina 2008/6/19 Stephen Allen <[log in to unmask]>: > It's the sort of story which ends up in the Daily Mail under a 'Political > Correctness Gone Mad!' headline. However, as a parent and if I was a > teacher I wouldn't want my kid(s) buying crappy toy weapons. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sun Jester > Sent: 19 June 2008 11:58 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Fw: Wooden weapons - schools instructed not to buy on site visits? > > > > Hi All > > I have asked a major wooden toy company who supply to English Heritage and > many others for their view. This is their response. I am inclined to think > that this is to do with individual school's decisions and not a general > theme. > > Towse Harrison > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Tymeagain Ltd, Historic Toys > > To: 'Sun Jester' > > Cc: [log in to unmask] > > Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 9:21 AM > > Subject: RE: Wooden weapons - schools instructed not to buy on site visits? > > > > Hi > > The short answer is I do not know of any directive. > > > > The long answer is we have not heard any rumour from either the English > Heritage Buyers or Historic Scotland's, The National Trust, Historic Royal > Palaces or any of our many, many independent historic site customers. > > > > We have e-mail orders from schools all over the country every week of the > year; this week has been no exception. We have built good relations with > teachers all over Britain and they have said nothing about this matter. > > > > There are many Schools that have a 'no weapons' policy on School trips, many > more have a 'no pocket money' policy or say "only bring a pound to spend". > > > > Throughout the whole of the UK we have not seen or heard of a lack of sales > this year because parents are buying less toy weapons because they want to > follow directives laid down by their child's school. This sort of rumour > does the rounds every five years or so. > > > > As you have asked, you may pass on this e-mail to your colleges if you wish. > > > > All the best, > > > > Ben Jeal > > Director Tymeagain ltd. > > [log in to unmask] > > www.historictoys.co.uk <http://www.historictoys.co.uk> > > > > > > > > From: Sun Jester [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 17 June 2008 13:20 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Wooden weapons - schools instructed not to buy on site visits? > > > > Hi > > You may realise that I have just ordered some toys from you if my name is > familiar. I work in museum and heritage education and have just received the > following email ( pasted in below this message) via the e-list of The Group > for Education in Museums. This is one of those classics that will make > people panic unless/until they know the truth. As wooden weapons are your > speciality (and I know that English Heritage sell them at their sites) are > you aware of anything like this - or is it just the policy of an individual > school. I would be happy to pass your comments back to the e-list if you > would like. > > Many thanks > > Towse Harrison > > SUN JESTER > Consultants for Lifelong Learning > Historical Interpreters > Community Artists > 12 Ascott Road, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1HX > Tel: 01296 423118 > http://sun-jester.mysite.orange.co.uk/ > "Anyone who tries to make a distinction between education and entertainment > doesn't know the first thing about either". - Herbert Marshall McLuhan > 1911-1980 > > > > Original message: > > Dear GEM > > > > We have had the following report from one of our site staff and I was > wondering if anyone else had heard of this? I have looked at the DCSF > website and googled, but can't find anything. > > > > "After talking to a teacher I was informed that according to new school > guidelines children on trips or at schools are not allowed to buy anything > resembling weapons anymore AT ALL. This means that in future bows and arrows > , swords, catapults wont be purchased by school groups. > > We have also noticed the trend of parents also following this as well, often > overhearing the "no weapons" rule being told to children". > > > > Many thanks > > Lynne Minett > > Education Manager (North of England) > > English Heritage > > > > ________________________________ > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.4.0/1508 - Release Date: 18/06/2008 > 21:08 > > National Museum of Flight Airshow, 26 July. Book now and save up to £10 per > ticket. www.nms.ac.uk/airshow <http://www.nms.ac.uk/airshow> <http://www.nms.ac.uk/airshow> > > National Museums Scotland, Scottish Charity, No. SC 011130 > > This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the > addressee please inform the sender and delete the email from your system. > The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the > author and do not necessarily reflect those of National Museums Scotland. > This message is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998 and Freedom of > Information (Scotland) Act 2002. No liability is accepted for any harm that > may be caused to your systems or data by this message. > > . -- Tehmina Goskar, MA AMA [log in to unmask] Web Communication Development for Culture, Heritage and Academia Museum Specialist Historian -- My new book: Powering Up: are computer games changing our lives? is now available. http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470723106.html