Junior Docents Take Classmates on Museum Tour
Not everyone realizes that museums need not be stuffy and reserved for adult patrons. Young people love visiting these places, too. Huntington fifth graders took delight in a recent trip to the Heckscher Museum, where they were brought on a tour by classmates who earlier were given specialized training.
The program was arranged by the district’s arts-in-education committee. One student in each fifth grade class at Woodhull and Jack Abrams intermediate schools was selected by art teachers Todd Hiscox and Karen Morea to serve as a museum tour guide or docent.
“The student leaders attend four training sessions after school during which they learn about the art work in the exhibit that they will be presenting to their students,” explained Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts.
The junior docents included Woodhull School students Kevin Lumpe, Alexandra Alvarenga, Tateana Khokhar, Ashley Wright, Michael Maceluch, Camryn Libes, Gabriella Bartley and Rudolf Fasolino and Jack Abrams School students Jisel Martinez, Aidan McCormack, Justin Larice, Luis Cuji, Ifedayo Balogun and Jordan Biener.
“Having a real art museum in your own town is very special,” Mrs. Fretz said. “We think it’s important for all of our Huntington students to visit the museum and discover what it’s like and see real artwork up close. There is much that is lost in just seeing digital images of art work. The Hecksher has a wonderful permanent collection and also provides interesting special exhibits.”
Just such a special exhibit was on display during the visit by Huntington students. It featured work by Long Island artists. The exhibit, Long Island Moderns: Artists on the North Shore from Edward Steichen to Cindy Sherman,” will run through January 10, 2010. It celebrates “the rich, yet often overlooked role of Huntington and the North Shore of Long Island in American art.”
The Huntington youngsters enjoyed their time at the local gem. “I thought it’s cool to discover many artists I had not heard of,” student Ashley Wright said.
The junior docent program participants had assorted reactions to the experience. “To do a presentation in front of everybody is a little scary,” K.C. Lumpe said. “But once you do it, you’ll want to do it again.” Tea Khokhar said “It was educational and fun. We learned different vocabulary, like ‘media,’ and we made new friends.”
Students leading students around a museum is an interesting concept and it benefits everyone. Alexandra Alvarenga found her time as a guide to be well worth it. “The junior docent program was fun,” she said. “It can help people learn a lot about art.”
“It’s a great experience for the docents,” Mr. Hiscox said. “The junior docent program has become a fifth grade tradition. I love the fact that we have here in our own hometown an accredited museum and that we have access to a program such as this. It’s great seeing these children rise to the challenge of basically teaching their own peers and see the classes interact and participate so actively.”
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