Museum jobs provide the opportunity for teenagers to gain valuable resume building skills. Universities and employers are looking for candidates who have experience outside of school that demonstrates responsibility and a desire to seek out challenging opportunities. There are many opportunities for teens in museums and historic sites or parks. Museums benefit from working with teenagers by embracing the chance to connect with this audience and the wider community. Museums also get more help!
As institutions of learning and education, museums and National Parks have a unique opportunity to tap into the potential of collaborating with schools. Co-developing work-study and school-credit-for-work programs with high schools has been successful in institutions such as the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. and also in the National Parks. Both utilize students to conduct research and develop programming. In Tuscon, AZ at Saguaro National Park, students help the biology team inventory and monitor the park’s signature species as well as learn to set wildlife trail cameras. Mentorship and skills gained by collaborative work projects with teens provides opportunities for those who may not have other opportunities to gain this type of quality experience.
Teens find inspiration in working outside the classroom. Connections to science, art, and history can be made on a personal level for individual teens in museums. Getting out of the classroom and into an informal educational setting can provide the space for a teen to develop their interests and lead them to work in fields inspiring to them.
Is it good for teenagers to work? Research has shown that too much work, coupled with the responsibilities of school and social development, is not good. Statistics reveal that at about 20 hours or more teenagers start to suffer with their grades and personal functioning. As a parent, limiting the number of hours your child works is critical to making it a positive experience. But equally important will be the quality of work they are doing. Teenagers are often working in jobs that require little training or education (due to the lack of experiences they have had at their age). Unfortunately, jobs like this (e.g. working fast food or retail, for example) add little value to the cognitive and psychosocial development of their person. Conversely, when teenagers feel like their job gives them skills they can use in the future, satisfaction or quality greatly increases.
In their article, “Some effects of teenagers’ part-time employment: the quantity and quality of work make the difference,” Julian Barling et. al. argue that “the quality of employment, and the way in which employment quality moderates the amount of part-time work, is more important than employment quantity alone in predicting school performance and personal functioning.”#
Museums are a quality work environment:
As museum educators, we see the museum as a quality work environment. Time-management, interpersonal skills, public speaking, interpretation, writing, management, event-planning are a few skills that can be gained working in a museum or park.
YouthALIVE initiative:
In 72 institutions throughout the US, youth have come together in science centers, children’s museums, zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens. Responses from participants of youthALIVE! self-reported their successes and satisfaction. “Every story stresses learning” and “an awareness that they have acquired knowledge and skills that will be useful in the rest of their education and lives.” Other skills acquired included: communication and public speaking, social awareness (of themselves in relationship to others and to society), confidence (speaking in front of groups, being accepted by the museum “family”), improved language skills (for English language learners) and building positive relationships (making friends, finding role models). Such opportunities also formally introduce youth to the workplace.# I have found that this age group of students are often working or want to work. They see it as more valuable than schooling for its practical application and money-earning power. So, if they can work in an environment where they also learn life skills and subject matter, they can really be enriched.
Examples:
Saguaro National Park - link to teen stewards site:
Museum Teen Summit:
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:
Jobs for teens in museums:
http://teens4hire.blogspot.com/2009/06/jobs-for-teens-in-museums.html
The Participatory Museum by Nina Simon:
http://www.participatorymuseum.org/chapter7/
Thanks for the post and the resources, Leslie! I remember how badly I wanted to gain some work experience when I was a teenager. I would have LOVED to work at a museum growing up. It would certainly provide teens with invaluable professional and volunteer experiences at a young age. I also really like the point you made that museums can provide teens with inspiration to develop new interests. As we discussed in our seminar class this semester, teens are always searching and developing their identities. Museums can certainly play a role in this.
ReplyDeleteI came across a program put on by the VMFA that reminded me of your post about teen employment in museums - thought I'd share it with you - it's called M.LiT: Museum Leaders in Training. It's a volunteer program designed for teens who have an interest in art, history, etc.; it gives them an opportunity to collaborate with museum staff, attend workshops, and participate in discussions. According to the website, they even have the opportunity to design and curate an exhibition that features Virginia teens' artwork! I know if I were still a teen, I would apply for this program in a heartbeat! Check it out: http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Learn/Teens/MLiT/
Julie,
DeleteThanks for the great link! I will include this in our final blog post.
Leslie - I agree that teens working in a museum is a "win/win for all involved". But I wonder if you came upon any ideas about how to express this idea to all the staff working in the museums. For some, especially those who not accustomed to teenagers, they can be a scary cohort. Did you come across any way to make the staff as a whole welcoming to the teens? These programs seem great! But I just wonder if you found anything that discussed or gave advice to museums attempting to start their own teen working/volunteering programs. Wonderfully creative ideas in the post!
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