“A child educated only at school is an uneducated child.” In making this remark philosopher George Santayana was not criticizing schools. Rather he was speaking to the benefit of an education not solely confined to the four walls of a classroom. Having spent 35 years as a classroom teacher myself, I can attest to the truth of his statement. Teachers are always looking for ways to spark their students’ interest in their subject matter. For me personally, as a teacher of history to young people who sometimes struggle to see the relevance of the past on their lives, it was often a challenge to make my lessons come alive to draw them in. Regardless of how well organized a lesson plan was, my students were always more engaged if the learning was experiential, such as interacting with a visual aid, rather than passively listening to a lecture.
The Champaign County Historical Museum is a treasure trove of over 13,000 artifacts which could bring history to life for Champaign County students and the public in general if it is more readily accessible. Presently, lacking a dedicated source of steady income, the museum’s hours of operation are quite limited due to the forced reliance on volunteer help, thus greatly restricting the museum’s ability to serve the interests of the county.
On November 6, Champaign County Historical Society is seeking passage of a 3/10 mil operating levy to finance and expand educational outreach and hours of operation. The effective cost of the levy amounts to $10 per year year on a $100,000 property. For a nominal cost Champaign County residents will realize an exponential benefit, the very definition of a bargain.
Please join me on November 6 in voting “Yes” for the Champaign County Historical Museum levy. As Santayana also said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Terri Marratta serves as the educational outreach chairperson for the Champaign County Historical Museum. This column was submitted on behalf of the Champaign County Historical Society’s board of trustees.