Education is, or should be, a major function of any public activity. Public
agencies, in theory, should always have an education function or at least a
public relations function.
 
There is a major obstacle, however. That obstacle is bad press.
 
Bureaucrats too often are absolutely petrified at the idea of criticism
(not necessarily actual criticism, but the idea of criticism).  I have
worked for such spineless wimps,who have inevitably gotten their just
desserts.
 
The bureaucratic instinct is to run for cover and maintain the lowest
possible profile. As a result, public agencies doing archaeology frequently
fail to communicate effectively with the public.
 
Any public exposure will attract some criticism, and a few nutsies. In my
experience, too many bureaucrats are terrified at the idea of receiving any
criticism.
 
A public education program, as Bob Schuyler discusses, can help an agency
or a project immensely. Unfortunately, any public outreach will attract a
few opposition zealots who will be satisfied with nothing less than the
governor's head on a platter. Fear of such adverse reaction can result in a
complete shutdown of any outreach.
 
Selling archaeological education and outreach will too frequently be a
selling job against the very root instincts by which bureaucrats maintain
their existence.
 
 
___(_____)           When does a good archaeologist become an
|Baby the\           incompetent archaeologist?
|1969 Land\_===__
   ___Rover   ___|o
|_/ . \______/ .  ||  Answer: Just after he leaves the room.
 __\_/________\_/________________________________________________
Ned Heite, Camden, DE  http://home.dmv.com/~eheite/index.html