No one can speak for ancient Britons
While reading your May issue of Museums Journal I read an article entitled Respect for All, which discussed why the pagan community should be taken more seriously in the museum profession (Museums Journal May 2006, p18), I was appalled to read that some museums are considering performing neo-pagan rites on human remains upon reburial or removal of those remains. As an archaeologist and a pagan, I found that disrespectful and, to be honest, rather silly.
Firstly, we need to consider that museums are under the obligation to respect human remains. I assume this respect includes refusing to allow them to be used as totems by people who have no real claim to them. Moreover, I do not think it is acceptable for rituals to be performed in connection with people whose original religious beliefs are unknown.
We have little information about the pre-Christian people of Britain, though we are aware that before Rome conquered Britain the land was divided into tribes that may have had different beliefs. Pigeonholing all of these people in one 'pagan' group is careless.
The article asked: 'If museums regard such a worldview as acceptable for traditions from other parts of the world - Aborigines, First Nation American, etc - then why not this country?' But the traditions of Native Americans and Aborigines have been handed down over the generations with few gaps.
Our understanding of the spiritual practices of early Britons is confined to a small number of carvings that may be of a religious nature and the writings of a people who set out to conquer them. How could you possibly perform a religious ceremony in honour of them?
I have been a pagan for 13 years and in my experience the 'ancient practices' carried out by many pagans (not including myself) are based on a romanticised idea of the past, not on history. Why should museums cater to this?
Michelle Diedriech, MA student of museum studies, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Are masters degrees a waste of time?
After reading your article Just the Job (Museums Journal May 2006, p16), I was left feeling frustrated and baffled. Were you discussing all museum studies courses in the UK? I agree that many graduates do struggle to find work due to the sheer number of qualified candidates.
However, I must express my own satisfaction with the course that I am doing at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, which seems to exceed your criteria. Not only do we undertake a two-month placement but we have input throughout the course from professionals.
Tyne & Wear Museums, Beamish Museum and independent practitioners take an active interest in our studies. We also have numerous guest lecturers from Baltic, the National Trust, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, English Heritage, and even the Museums Association!
Initial exploration in the field of employment has verified that my Master of Arts (MA) is both practical and worthwhile. I am in no doubt that it will help me succeed.
Ruth Ashburner, museum studies student, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Having finished Just the Job, I am now angry enough to finally voice my views in print - as a 'stereotypical white, able-bodied, middle-class woman with a humanities degree'.
According to those who attended the symposium on entry-level recruitment, I've wasted two years of my life, not to mention £5,000 of my hard-earned money, studying for an MA in museum studies (distance learning) that is worthless. Imagine my joy at reading that, not to mention my confusion.
There are three reasons why there are too many 'qualified' people applying for entry-level posts. Firstly, just about every job advertisement has a museums studies postgraduate qualification as a requirement.
And secondly, anything other than entry-level posts (and sometimes even those) call for three years of full-time paid experience. The latter can quite clearly only be fulfilled by those already working in museums. The much-touted voluntary work cuts no ice as it is usually not full-time, and definitely not paid.
Thirdly, MAs are popular because anyone voicing an interest in museum work has been and is still being told by professionals that there is no hope of getting a job without one. I have been told this and so, very recently, has a friend of mine.
So can recruiters please make their minds up? And can I also ask why Diversify traineeships pay for trainees to undertake MAs? They are, after all, getting the paid experience that symposium members rate as much more valuable. Doesn't that make the qualification a waste of their money?
Here's my assessment of the museum community's 'stereotypical' behaviour. You bang on endlessly about the changes that are needed and agree on courses of action that in reality usually never happen. In the meanwhile, I and thousands of students like me are trying to keep up with the shifting goalposts.
Museums need to learn that being visionary is good but not if the vision is merely an ever-changing 'wish list'. If traineeships are needed then they must be championed. After all, the sector needs fresh blood to survive.
My suggestion for all those considering an MA is this: think long and hard before spending your cash. It would seem that I and students like me are to be sold out because the profession is going back on its word.
One final thought - be careful, museums, of making MA candidates feel that their labours are fruitless. Instead of having too many candidates, you may end up with too few.
Michele Scott, Stratford-upon-Avon
I am a 'stereotypical white, able-bodied, middle-class woman with a humanities degree' and I am beginning to get fed up with the assumption that because I fit this description I am less desirable as an employee. I will not fill any of the 'inclusion' boxes but I love what I do and do it well.
A combination of an archaeology degree and cultural heritage studies MA should have put me in good stead for the museum sector but the sad truth is that it didn't. As pointed out in your article, it is voluntary work that gets you the real experience needed to get a job and that is exactly the path that I took.
I did an extra placement during my MA to get a wider experience base and in addition volunteered at my local museum, where I am now lucky to have a job.
However, to get any meaningful experience you need time, which many people just can't afford. One day a week is not going to give you the responsibility or experience deemed necessary for the job.
What the sector is seriously lacking is the opportunity for paid placements. Most jobs advertised want two to three years of experience but no one is willing to invest in people to give them that experience.
I am amazed at the number of people who finish what is an essentially vocational course and then have to go in a completely different direction. These people are committed and intelligent and would be an asset to the heritage sector. Unfortunately, most of them are also white, able-bodied, middle-class women with a humanities degree!
Alexandra Rowe, museum officer, Elmbridge Museum, Surrey
The achievements of Islamic science Stephen Feber's otherwise excellent review of the temporary exhibition 1001 Inventions at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (Museums Journal May 2006, p50) implies that the exhibition was produced by the museum and takes us to task for not presenting Islamic science as 'part of the continuum between the ancient world, the Renaissance and the modern world'.
In fact the exhibition, along with the accompanying book, website and schools resources, was the brainchild of Salim Al-Hassani, the professor of engineering at the University of Manchester. Professor Al-Hassani states explicitly that his intention was to showcase the achievements of the Islamic world during our Saxon and medieval times.
His vision for the initiative and the establishment of the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation to oversee fundraising and production of the exhibition is, in itself, a significant achievement.
By collaborating with Professor Al-Hassani and his team to stage this exhibition our museum has developed valuable links with the Muslim community in our region. Many have visited us for the first time as a result of this project.
Ian Griffin, director, Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Join the AHI for help with interpretation
As a past chairman and founder member of the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) I was pleased to read the account of the debate about the future of interpretation in historic houses (Museums Journal May 2006, p26). I hope that a complete transcript and report on the conference will be made available. The article airs some vital concepts, applicable to museums in general.
In 1975, when the AHI - then known as the Society for the Interpretation of Britain's Heritage - was founded, I was the director of the area museums service for South East England. As such, I was committed to motivating staff to learn from colleagues interpreting the natural and historic environment in this country and abroad, notably the US.
At the time I was one of the few museum professionals to join the AHI and although the techniques of relevant interpretation are now widely employed in museums the number of professionals joining the association and benefiting from its publications and meetings remains small.
I suspect that many of your readers remain unsure how to define interpretation, being in all likelihood more comfortable with terms such as display, presentation or communication. So may I quote the revised definition adopted by the AHI last December: 'Interpretation enriches our lives through engaging emotions, enhancing experiences and deepening understanding of people, places, events and objects from past and present.'
I recommend membership to anybody involved in making museums collections accessible to visitors.Information about the AHI can be found on its website (www.heritage-interpretation.org.uk).
Richard Harrison, retired, Poole
While reading your May issue of Museums Journal I read an article entitled Respect for All, which discussed why the pagan community should be taken more seriously in the museum profession (Museums Journal May 2006, p18), I was appalled to read that some museums are considering performing neo-pagan rites on human remains upon reburial or removal of those remains. As an archaeologist and a pagan, I found that disrespectful and, to be honest, rather silly.
Firstly, we need to consider that museums are under the obligation to respect human remains. I assume this respect includes refusing to allow them to be used as totems by people who have no real claim to them. Moreover, I do not think it is acceptable for rituals to be performed in connection with people whose original religious beliefs are unknown.
We have little information about the pre-Christian people of Britain, though we are aware that before Rome conquered Britain the land was divided into tribes that may have had different beliefs. Pigeonholing all of these people in one 'pagan' group is careless.
The article asked: 'If museums regard such a worldview as acceptable for traditions from other parts of the world - Aborigines, First Nation American, etc - then why not this country?' But the traditions of Native Americans and Aborigines have been handed down over the generations with few gaps.
Our understanding of the spiritual practices of early Britons is confined to a small number of carvings that may be of a religious nature and the writings of a people who set out to conquer them. How could you possibly perform a religious ceremony in honour of them?
I have been a pagan for 13 years and in my experience the 'ancient practices' carried out by many pagans (not including myself) are based on a romanticised idea of the past, not on history. Why should museums cater to this?
Michelle Diedriech, MA student of museum studies, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Are masters degrees a waste of time?
After reading your article Just the Job (Museums Journal May 2006, p16), I was left feeling frustrated and baffled. Were you discussing all museum studies courses in the UK? I agree that many graduates do struggle to find work due to the sheer number of qualified candidates.
However, I must express my own satisfaction with the course that I am doing at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, which seems to exceed your criteria. Not only do we undertake a two-month placement but we have input throughout the course from professionals.
Tyne & Wear Museums, Beamish Museum and independent practitioners take an active interest in our studies. We also have numerous guest lecturers from Baltic, the National Trust, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, English Heritage, and even the Museums Association!
Initial exploration in the field of employment has verified that my Master of Arts (MA) is both practical and worthwhile. I am in no doubt that it will help me succeed.
Ruth Ashburner, museum studies student, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Having finished Just the Job, I am now angry enough to finally voice my views in print - as a 'stereotypical white, able-bodied, middle-class woman with a humanities degree'.
According to those who attended the symposium on entry-level recruitment, I've wasted two years of my life, not to mention £5,000 of my hard-earned money, studying for an MA in museum studies (distance learning) that is worthless. Imagine my joy at reading that, not to mention my confusion.
There are three reasons why there are too many 'qualified' people applying for entry-level posts. Firstly, just about every job advertisement has a museums studies postgraduate qualification as a requirement.
And secondly, anything other than entry-level posts (and sometimes even those) call for three years of full-time paid experience. The latter can quite clearly only be fulfilled by those already working in museums. The much-touted voluntary work cuts no ice as it is usually not full-time, and definitely not paid.
Thirdly, MAs are popular because anyone voicing an interest in museum work has been and is still being told by professionals that there is no hope of getting a job without one. I have been told this and so, very recently, has a friend of mine.
So can recruiters please make their minds up? And can I also ask why Diversify traineeships pay for trainees to undertake MAs? They are, after all, getting the paid experience that symposium members rate as much more valuable. Doesn't that make the qualification a waste of their money?
Here's my assessment of the museum community's 'stereotypical' behaviour. You bang on endlessly about the changes that are needed and agree on courses of action that in reality usually never happen. In the meanwhile, I and thousands of students like me are trying to keep up with the shifting goalposts.
Museums need to learn that being visionary is good but not if the vision is merely an ever-changing 'wish list'. If traineeships are needed then they must be championed. After all, the sector needs fresh blood to survive.
My suggestion for all those considering an MA is this: think long and hard before spending your cash. It would seem that I and students like me are to be sold out because the profession is going back on its word.
One final thought - be careful, museums, of making MA candidates feel that their labours are fruitless. Instead of having too many candidates, you may end up with too few.
Michele Scott, Stratford-upon-Avon
I am a 'stereotypical white, able-bodied, middle-class woman with a humanities degree' and I am beginning to get fed up with the assumption that because I fit this description I am less desirable as an employee. I will not fill any of the 'inclusion' boxes but I love what I do and do it well.
A combination of an archaeology degree and cultural heritage studies MA should have put me in good stead for the museum sector but the sad truth is that it didn't. As pointed out in your article, it is voluntary work that gets you the real experience needed to get a job and that is exactly the path that I took.
I did an extra placement during my MA to get a wider experience base and in addition volunteered at my local museum, where I am now lucky to have a job.
However, to get any meaningful experience you need time, which many people just can't afford. One day a week is not going to give you the responsibility or experience deemed necessary for the job.
What the sector is seriously lacking is the opportunity for paid placements. Most jobs advertised want two to three years of experience but no one is willing to invest in people to give them that experience.
I am amazed at the number of people who finish what is an essentially vocational course and then have to go in a completely different direction. These people are committed and intelligent and would be an asset to the heritage sector. Unfortunately, most of them are also white, able-bodied, middle-class women with a humanities degree!
Alexandra Rowe, museum officer, Elmbridge Museum, Surrey
The achievements of Islamic science Stephen Feber's otherwise excellent review of the temporary exhibition 1001 Inventions at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (Museums Journal May 2006, p50) implies that the exhibition was produced by the museum and takes us to task for not presenting Islamic science as 'part of the continuum between the ancient world, the Renaissance and the modern world'.
In fact the exhibition, along with the accompanying book, website and schools resources, was the brainchild of Salim Al-Hassani, the professor of engineering at the University of Manchester. Professor Al-Hassani states explicitly that his intention was to showcase the achievements of the Islamic world during our Saxon and medieval times.
His vision for the initiative and the establishment of the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation to oversee fundraising and production of the exhibition is, in itself, a significant achievement.
By collaborating with Professor Al-Hassani and his team to stage this exhibition our museum has developed valuable links with the Muslim community in our region. Many have visited us for the first time as a result of this project.
Ian Griffin, director, Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Join the AHI for help with interpretation
As a past chairman and founder member of the Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) I was pleased to read the account of the debate about the future of interpretation in historic houses (Museums Journal May 2006, p26). I hope that a complete transcript and report on the conference will be made available. The article airs some vital concepts, applicable to museums in general.
In 1975, when the AHI - then known as the Society for the Interpretation of Britain's Heritage - was founded, I was the director of the area museums service for South East England. As such, I was committed to motivating staff to learn from colleagues interpreting the natural and historic environment in this country and abroad, notably the US.
At the time I was one of the few museum professionals to join the AHI and although the techniques of relevant interpretation are now widely employed in museums the number of professionals joining the association and benefiting from its publications and meetings remains small.
I suspect that many of your readers remain unsure how to define interpretation, being in all likelihood more comfortable with terms such as display, presentation or communication. So may I quote the revised definition adopted by the AHI last December: 'Interpretation enriches our lives through engaging emotions, enhancing experiences and deepening understanding of people, places, events and objects from past and present.'
I recommend membership to anybody involved in making museums collections accessible to visitors.Information about the AHI can be found on its website (www.heritage-interpretation.org.uk).
Richard Harrison, retired, Poole
