25. INNOVATION ABSTRACTS x2:

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With support from the WK. Kellogg Foundation and Sid W. Richardson Foundation

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IN PRAISE OF EXHIBITS

Why don’t we go all out for well-done and relevant exhibits, displays and skill demonstrations in our
colleges? The need is clearly there. Around the country students are being criticized for lack of knowledge
and general ignorance. Great ideas, events and personalities of the past go unappreciated. Most of us have
heard about or experienced firsthand the disturbing educational inadequacies of students in general. On
September 23, 1985, Newsweek magazine published a biting article by Jaime M. O’Neil in which he revealed
the devastating results of a general knowledge test to his community college students. Some answers:
Eisenhower was a president in the 17th century, Mussolini was Russian, Mark Twain invented the cotton
gin, Christ was born in the 16th century, and Montreal is in Spain. We can lament such foolish responses
and ignore the whole matter or make use of available exhibit space to help remedy the problem.

Exhibits are by no means a final answer, but they can accomplish part of the job. Not only would our
students stand to gain, but the community at large could find well-done exhibits worth a trip to the campus.
Hallways and open spaces are available for displays, models, wall hangings and exhibition cases.

The means are readily at hand. There are many traveling exhibits and displays for loan. The visual and
experiential world has moved to our doorstep. Sight and sound are combined as never before. At the same
time models of things great and small abound. Polaroid is making remarkable full-sized reproductions of
masterpieces. Laser beams and the psychedelic experience beckons. As for demonstrations, who doesn’t
want an opportunity to show off a skill, a novelty, an idea?

On walls, in corridors and around the campus, students could, for example: spin a large globe and find
Angola, inspect a history time line, study enlarged photos from the Great Depression, see a loop video on a
topic of their choice, appreciate a special holiday, watch a jeweler at his trade, look at a display of book
jackets from the library, check on their health, listen to music or a voice from the past, review the daily
news, fill out a form asking for special information, use a computer, get a print-out, try a new skill, observe
models of nineteenth century inventions, admire American art, sign up for a club and make arrangements to
exhibit their own accomplishments.

The start-up need not be fancy or expensive. Contacts can be made for exhibits and things can be
acquired gradually. Storage space and security would be minor administrative factors. Perhaps a part-time
curator could be found.

Exhibits can be made to fit into any theme or special event. They can also be used to introduce a theme.
| could leave the matter there, but some things I can’t resist suggesting.

a large, flat map of the world

a time line

a large globe—placed in a corridor

a bench where skilled people can demonstrate their work

bookcases with new material, including donated magazines and books
6. display cases in every corridor

Cathedrals in the Middle Ages were meant to impress and inform people about events in Christianity.
Now I suggest we start out on a similar venture in making available exhibits on the wonders of the world
and achievements of humankind.

Ge Soh

Ronald B. Jackson
El Paso Community College

For further information, contact the author at El Paso Community College, P.O. Box 20500, El Paso, Texas
79998,

 

 

 

op Community College Leadership Program, The University of Texas at Austin, EDB 348, Austin, Texas 78712

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