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American History Museum
This branch of the Smithsonian reopened today. It was open until seven in celebration, so I went along early this evening. The reopening may be official, but there were still large areas that were "no go," some of the escalators and elevators weren't working, and a few of the exhibits did not yet have their explanatory signs.
And I'm disappointed. When I was a kid, this was the Museum of History and Technology. Rather than taking out the Technology, they should have left it in this building and renovated the Arts and Industries building on the Mall for the American History part.
During the Reagan Administration, they junked the whole thing up. Most of the worst kitsch has been relegated to a warehouse in Maryland somewhere, and I'm very glad of it.
What's in it, though is a hotchpotch. Much like condensed soup, there are a few pieces of chicken every so often, but there's an awful lot of water in between. There's a music area and a Presidential History area. There's a segment dealing with the atom bomb that's right around the corner from Julia Child's Kitchen.
Curatorial science has progressed since the 1960s and rather than hanging (behind glass) on a wall with bright sunlight, the Star Spangled Banner is now in a darkened area laying flat. This is good for the flag, but, unfortunately, gives off the strong scent of "flag-worship." It's a small room with a progression of historical information about the poem and later song leading up to an enshrined flag. Having it flat certainly gives me a much better idea about the size of it, but I couldn't shake the impression that I was supposed to get on my knees.
The thing that really breaks my heart is that the Foucault Pendulum is gone. This is something else that was junked up during the Reagan administration. When the building first opened in 1964 the Pendulum hung down two stories.
The first time I saw it is also my first memory of comprehending science as an analysis of the world. I was nine, maybe younger. The Pendulum made little ellipses on the floor and knocked over the little markers every twenty minutes or so. Having it explained that the Pendulum didn't move, that what we were seeing was the bob standing still as the Earth moved the building around it, gave me a rush. The world turns. It's round and it turns and I'm here.
When I came back to the US briefly in 1981, the pendulum had been cut down to one story. The movement and the idea seemed less profound. Now, the only remnant is a round patch on the second floor near the mall entrance.
One last thing. Don't despair that kids today are getting a worse education than we did. I overheard a conversation between two people my age about the original 12 states. They then argued about whether Virginia was a colony.
*quietly weeps in corner*
And I'm disappointed. When I was a kid, this was the Museum of History and Technology. Rather than taking out the Technology, they should have left it in this building and renovated the Arts and Industries building on the Mall for the American History part.
During the Reagan Administration, they junked the whole thing up. Most of the worst kitsch has been relegated to a warehouse in Maryland somewhere, and I'm very glad of it.
What's in it, though is a hotchpotch. Much like condensed soup, there are a few pieces of chicken every so often, but there's an awful lot of water in between. There's a music area and a Presidential History area. There's a segment dealing with the atom bomb that's right around the corner from Julia Child's Kitchen.
Curatorial science has progressed since the 1960s and rather than hanging (behind glass) on a wall with bright sunlight, the Star Spangled Banner is now in a darkened area laying flat. This is good for the flag, but, unfortunately, gives off the strong scent of "flag-worship." It's a small room with a progression of historical information about the poem and later song leading up to an enshrined flag. Having it flat certainly gives me a much better idea about the size of it, but I couldn't shake the impression that I was supposed to get on my knees.
The thing that really breaks my heart is that the Foucault Pendulum is gone. This is something else that was junked up during the Reagan administration. When the building first opened in 1964 the Pendulum hung down two stories.
The first time I saw it is also my first memory of comprehending science as an analysis of the world. I was nine, maybe younger. The Pendulum made little ellipses on the floor and knocked over the little markers every twenty minutes or so. Having it explained that the Pendulum didn't move, that what we were seeing was the bob standing still as the Earth moved the building around it, gave me a rush. The world turns. It's round and it turns and I'm here.
When I came back to the US briefly in 1981, the pendulum had been cut down to one story. The movement and the idea seemed less profound. Now, the only remnant is a round patch on the second floor near the mall entrance.
One last thing. Don't despair that kids today are getting a worse education than we did. I overheard a conversation between two people my age about the original 12 states. They then argued about whether Virginia was a colony.
*quietly weeps in corner*
no subject
Math seems at least as well covered as when I was that age, and maybe better covered than in my day.
Science, and I include social science in this, just isn't covered. They can't figure out how to set up an experiment. They can't ask for context for an historic or scientific event. First principles are missing.
As an example, the first lesson in my technology seminar with the kids was supposed to be building a phenakistiscope. Not once was persistence of vision mentioned. No definition of technology was given in the lesson plan, although I made certain to give them one. The project itself was long and messy. The same things could have been taught using a thaumatrope which is easier to make and covering the science behind why it works.