I'm not sure that what you sell in the shop does or doesn't impact on whether the site itself sanitises the past or not.

I think this probably is one of those urban myths that springs up from time to time. I agree with Marcus about our role (although I don't think it's often that opinion doesn't invade interpretation), but this is about toys in the shop, which some would see as "promotion". 

Personally I feel it's down to parents and teachers to make decisions on this type of thing. I once saw a child spend £5 on standard chocolate bars on a school trip - bet that taught his parents not to be so generous!People's experience (or lack of it) often gives them a very different perception to that of others. People's attitude to lumps of wood and metal never cease to amaze me. I'm from a rural family and to me a rifle is a lump of wood and metal that you use in a specific way and take great care with; I've met people who believe they couldn't have slept in a house with one.

Cars, kitchen knives and toasters kill people every year but I doubt we'll ever see a call to ban them. 

Ruth Kerr  
Senior Education Officer 
Learning, Access & Interpretation Team

Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane,
Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8RD
T 01962 826706   F 01962 869836
Hampshire Museums & Archives Service
Department of Recreation and Heritage
Hampshire County Council

Explore Hampshire Museums In May...
www.museummayhem.co.uk/




-----Original Message-----
From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marcus Grainger
Sent: 20 June 2008 09:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Wooden weapons - schools instructed not to buy on site visits?

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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
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--
Tehmina Goskar, MA AMA
[log in to unmask]

Web Communication Development for Culture, Heritage and Academia Museum Specialist Historian