PROPOSAL TYPE
Experiential
SEEKING
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking Specific Expertise
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
RELATED TOPICS
- Museums/Exhibits
- Preservation
- Teaching and Training
ABSTRACT
As an experienced teacher, I see the importance of taking my students on field trips. Many kids share the commonality of never leaving the radius of their neighborhood or school, and as a result, they often lack opportunities to try new things. I began working at a museum in the DFW area after earning my MA in history and specializing in public history. From there, I am seeing the disconnect between the two. Most teachers want to take their kids on trips, but budget constraints and the mounds of paperwork on top of district limitations have made it difficult. Museums want to help teachers, but are limited in space and manpower, and need revenue. Suggestions and dialogue that may help students, museums, and educators will be offered.
DESCRIPTION
Goals:
-To educate public historians on the current requirements most districts have placed on teachers if they choose to plan a field trip.
-Research and compose ideas on where grants can be secured to help museums and districts cover their costs.
-Identify straightforward methods for communication between museums and educators.
-Offer perspectives from museum educators
-Give student perspectives on their experiences with museums.
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly:
Dawn Welch, Mansfield ISD, [email protected]
All feedback and offers of assistance should be sent by November 15, 2025. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
I have a graduate student who is working on how museums serve rural student field trips. She has also works at a museum presently and has been a teacher in the past. Lots of good overlap here so you might reach out to her: Paige Perryman, [email protected].