Of late, some have met (how shall I say it?) a little "consumer resistance", when seeking funding for projects in the museum and heritage world. It seems that some do not consider museums to be educational institutions, perhaps to the "Disneyfication" and "theme-parking" of many subjects of an historical or heritage nature.

Unlike the Disneylands and the Busch Gardens of the world, museums are in fact fundamentally educational institutions, not entertainment centres. The central roles of museums are to preserve information from the past, in the form of artifacts and other materials or data, and to present that information for the edification of the public by various means.

Edification is a fine English word variously defined as "uplifting enlightenment so as to encourage intellectual or moral improvement", or as edifying, "that which educates, informs, illuminates or instructs". Museums inform the public about the past and themselves by the traditional and time-proven method of exhibitions, putting artifacts on display for people to see, study and appreciate. Museums also educate the public by other means, such as scholarly publications, videos and seminars, lectures and tours.

Museums and heritage sites, through the information they present to the public, have the power to change people's perceptions of the present world, and the near and distance past. Coupled with archaeological research on the buried past, few other disciplines have contributed as much to our understanding of ourselves as an animal species, evolving out of Africa a million years ago, and in our case, reaching Bermuda only 400 years ago.

The presentation of the physical past, whether in exhibits or "in the flesh", as in a tour of an historical site, can educate and illuminate (turn on the light bulbs, if you will), in a way that no classroom instruction can. This, I put to you, is demonstrated by the letters I received from some of the children of Primary 5, St. George's Preparatory School, pursuant to their tour of the Casemate Barracks and adjacent buildings and fortifications. Not only were these children educated about history, but they were excited by its remains and excitement aids in edification and intellectual improvement, as does no known artificial stimulant.

Below are some of their observations and remarks, from which you may decide for yourself if museums are educational institutions, or Disney-like imitators of the Past.

Jordan Carlington wrote: "I really enjoyed when you drove us on the old road because no other children have been on the road in 160 years. I was interested to learn that Casemates got its name from the casemates brick, because no other forts are named after a building feature."

Kerry Palmer noted: "Thank you for showing me Casemates Barracks. I really liked when you showed us the prisoners' paintings. I really enjoyed going down the latter because it was so exciting."

Meleah Smith wrote: "I was interested to learn that the walls in Casemates can be up to ten feet thick. When I grow up I would love to have Mr. Pettit's job, looking after forts."

Lynsey Palmer stated: "I really enjoyed going up the spiral stairs. It felt like I was going backwards but really I was going forwards. I was interested to learn that one of the tunnels was a cave with a wall put on. I thought that was cool and ingenious. I would really like to see what the inside of Fort William looks like so when I grow up I want to have the same job as you."

Freyja Kermode wrote: " I really enjoyed the part when you helped all of us down the ladder, because it was fun and exciting. I also liked when you gave us cookies! They were delicious!!!!!"

Taylor Mullan let me know that: "Dr. Harris, you really inspired me to take care of forts, because when we first started to learn about them I thought that forts were boring, but now I love them because of you. Thank you."

Bishop Zanders wrote: "I really enjoyed when we went in the tunnels, because it was very exciting when we went down the ladder. It was long, dark and awesome. It would make a great zombie movie."

Tia Burrows exclaimed: "I was interested to learn that the building was dated 1845 in Roman numbers. Every time someone asks me what the date stone said, I always remember. I would love to know if Fort William could be cleaned so we could go inside. Now that we have started to learn about forts I never want to stop!"

Stephon Paynter wrote: "I would really like to take care of the forts when I grow up, or I would like to be an archaeologist. For the last couple of weeks we have been going to forts. I now know how important they are and I just want to be involved somewhere."

The self-styled "Dr" Kalae Fox, who apparently is an early aspirant for a PhD, must be after my job, as he informed me: "Oh and did you know that Fort Paget was the first fort that was ever built in Bermuda?"!

Of course, the comment that warmed my chainsawing heart, and doubtless those who battle against the invasion and destruction of heritage buildings and monuments by "invasive" vegetation, came from Eyani Franklin-Smith, who asked: "Can I kill casuarinas trees wherever I see them?" Of course you should (and Mexican peppers and Indian laurel trees), Eyani, wherever you see them obliterating your heritage. Trees can grown again, historic buildings cannot, though that is an educational point that it seems impossible to embed in some older heads.

Of course, invasive trees growing in open spaces are destroying our landscape heritage, so when you chop them down, Eyani, plant Bermuda cedars and palmettos in their stead. If every student in primary schools planted a cedar in a public park, we could transform the landscape for the better, while sustaining our natural heritage of endemic trees.

The Casemate Barracks and its associated buildings and fortifications are now part of the National Museum of Bermuda, thanks to a recent decision by the Bermuda Government and the West End Development Corporation. Its buildings will expand the educational programmes of the Museum through additional exhibit space and research facilities, and by simply being the wonderful structures that they are, drawing the interest of the public of all ages, as here demonstrated by some of the denizens of the newest generation of Bermudians.

Comments or questions? Email drharris@logic.bm