ABSTRACT
In the spring of 2011,1 had two experiences that cast me into a temporary state of despair. First, I attended a regular bi-monthly meeting of local museum educators where the entire discussion quickly devolved into a debate about the best way to distribute our school program brochures — as if that were the sole factor influencing our steadily decreasing attendance. The following week, a colleague from a nearby museum and I met with administrators from two local school districts to discuss ways that schools and museums could partner to better serve the students in our community. Our hope was that we could foster an understanding of museums as more than just purveyors of field trips, but as organizations with resources and expertise who are equally concerned about the education and well being of children.
