School children explore the Museum of Science, 1964
Before packing away their textbooks at the end of the school year this June, 104 children from Norwood had enjoyed a new educational experience:
They visited Boston's Museum of Science for the first time in free, state-sponsored organized school groups.
They joined almost 34,000 others from 161 Massachusetts communities who took part in this new science program made possible by a recent change in the General Laws of the Commonwealth.
Until now, only schools located in the Boston Metropolitan Parks District were eligible for the free visit. Legislation passed last fall extended the privilege to include all public, private, and parochial schools in every one of the 39 cities and 180 towns in the state.
These first-time visitors swelled to 100,000 the grand total of school children that this year toured the Museum and took in one of its unique programs' a specially prepared auditorium lecture demonstration or a 45-minute showing in the Charles Hayden Planetarium, called a "Theatre of the Skies."
Planetarium programs change every several months and, depending upon what time of the year the groups visited the Museum, they may have journey worlds away, awaited Boston Yuletide tradition; looked at some of the giant optical and radio telescopes responsible for much of our knowledge of outer space ("Eyes and Ears Towards Space"); or learned latest data on Project Gemini, launching of two astronauts in orbit, and Project Apollo, the man-on-the-moon program ("Twins in Orbit").
The Auditorium program on "Our Atmosphere" told the story of earth's vital envelope, which not only supports life but also protects it.
Students visiting next semester will be able to choose again between equally as exciting Planetarium showings and an all-new Auditorium program on "Light and Sight."
This program, which blends basic biology with up-to-the-minute physics, will tell story of light, its effect the eye, and the way brain interprets it.
Arrangements for these Museum field trips are made through the Museum's School Services Section which is already booking for the upcoming season. To be sure of places, It is recommended that schools sign up as early as possible.
More especially, it that schools plan to Museums in the early year. Not only is crowded then, but also the inspiration and stimulation gained through the visit is carried through an entire school year.
(All articles originally appeared in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)
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