The scope of education

It is important to emphasise that the scope of education at the CBA and CSA has never been restricted to schools and children. The current fashion for lifelong learning (see Lock, Chapter 6) was foreshadowed very early by the CBA, which has always considered archaeological education to be a continuous process from childhood to post-retirement, with multiple opportunities to learn about, and become involved in, archaeology. This has been reflected in the structure and membership of its various committees dealing with education, and in the various education strategies and priorities developed by the Education Committee. The CBA has sought to influence the nature of the school curriculum, the content and structure of 14+ examinations, and has engaged in debates about the nature of higher and continuing education. Its publications have been aimed at school teachers, archaeologists and potential higher education students. The education officer supports the work of teachers and lecturers in schools, colleges and universities, and handles enquiries from students and parents covering all ages from primary school children to retired people. Promoting opportunities to study archaeology throughout a person’s life is a key part of the CBA’s approach to education. Likewise, the CSA has always considered education to encompass more than simply the school curriculum, and has put a lot of work into developing educational elements within its projects and initiatives, such as Adopt a Monument and, currently, Shorewatch. From early on, it has provided opportunities for incorporating archaeology in informal education, through its annual summer school and the Scottish field school of archaeology. The CSA is keen to involve youth groups, school groups and Young Archaeologists’ Club branches to take part in these projects. Taking archaeology to the wider public has been achieved through initiatives like Scottish Archaeology Month (previously National Archaeology Days in Scotland) which encourages people in Scotland to investigate, explore and present their own heritage, and the bi-annual Archaeology Fair. The CSA also maintains an Outreach element to its work which is under increasing demand. Participation in a number of national and regional public events, such as the Edinburgh International Science Festival, Shetland Science Festival, East Lothian Festival of Science and Nature, Aberdeen Techfest, Countryside Fairs, and Environmental Fairs has helped raise the profile of archaeology.