11th June 2008, 11:01 AM
I have been to my children's primary for the last few years, just going over generally the Romans in Year 3 and the Greeks in Year 5. While I've been doing it on an adhoc basis and with my rather variable quality teaching collection (of bits of bone and pot etc) the kids have loved it. I've also done some teenage (11-13) bits which went down well and am looking at possibly organising an excavation at a school in some old air raid shelters.
I have a pal who has also done this kind of 'outreach'. It would be really useful to promote this more (and maybe get a budget for it). I'm sure schools would pay for it if was seen as properly educational - I know it's valued but suspect it's viewed along the same lines as a 'parent helping out in the classroom'. If there was a central bank of people to contact in particular areas that may help. I've thought about doing more, but you can't do everything for free!
I have a pal who has also done this kind of 'outreach'. It would be really useful to promote this more (and maybe get a budget for it). I'm sure schools would pay for it if was seen as properly educational - I know it's valued but suspect it's viewed along the same lines as a 'parent helping out in the classroom'. If there was a central bank of people to contact in particular areas that may help. I've thought about doing more, but you can't do everything for free!