You asked for opinions..here is mine. All this talk of "training" before giving the scopes away is simply turning a hobby into a job. As a mechanic, my boss tells me to K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) any challenge that I may face, Yes, they may be cheap scopes. Yes, most will end up as dust collectors, or be sold at garage sales. I know that most of the kids who win these look at them as little more than a prize to be won. Even if they are, some will end up in the hands of someone with real interest and will discover the cosmos on thier own. It was a scope like this that I bought at a garage sale and put in my basement for two years. When I finally pulled it out, I found Jupiter by accident and was floored. It hooked me into astronomy forever. Keep it a hobby. Keep it simple. Look into better scopes to give away. Dont fret about what happens after. Once its out of our sight, its out of our control. Have faith that one of these scopes my change someones life. Even if we dont get to see it. Dale W. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
How can you call the delight of teaching a kid how to use his/her own telescope a job? Having done this hundreds of times, I know firsthand how wonderful it is to share my love of the beautiful night skies with young minds so eager to learn. Giving a telescope to someone without teaching them how to use it and showing them how well it works is cruel. They are far more likely to get frustrated and give up. The expressions of wonder and huge grins I receive make it all worthwhile! Wayne Sumner -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Dale Wilson Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2013 11:44 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Opinions please You asked for opinions..here is mine. All this talk of "training" before giving the scopes away is simply turning a hobby into a job. As a mechanic, my boss tells me to K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple stupid) any challenge that I may face, Yes, they may be cheap scopes. Yes, most will end up as dust collectors, or be sold at garage sales. I know that most of the kids who win these look at them as little more than a prize to be won. Even if they are, some will end up in the hands of someone with real interest and will discover the cosmos on thier own. It was a scope like this that I bought at a garage sale and put in my basement for two years. When I finally pulled it out, I found Jupiter by accident and was floored. It hooked me into astronomy forever. Keep it a hobby. Keep it simple. Look into better scopes to give away. Dont fret about what happens after. Once its out of our sight, its out of our control. Have faith that one of these scopes my change someones life. Even if we dont get to see it. Dale W. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options".
I agree, Wayne. In the specific case we are talking about, it's also a waste of Zap grant money. SLAS gives away telescopes just so they can say that they give out telescopes. On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 1:01 PM, Wayne Sumner <WSUMNER@dsdmail.net> wrote:
Giving a telescope to someone without teaching them how to use it and showing them how well it works is cruel. They are far more likely to get frustrated and give up.
What's the purpose of giving away scopes? IF it is to create an interest in astronomy or science, I doubt these little scopes will do that. I am in favor of giving away fewer but better scopes. Perhaps we should also look at the ages of the kids that are eligible and I take some of the blame. I don't think giving away a 6" telescope to a 6-year old, like my grandson, does much good. That is speaking from experience. I would suggest maybe High School and Jr. High School age. Sig On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 1:14 PM, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree, Wayne. In the specific case we are talking about, it's also a waste of Zap grant money. SLAS gives away telescopes just so they can say that they give out telescopes.
On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 1:01 PM, Wayne Sumner <WSUMNER@dsdmail.net> wrote:
Giving a telescope to someone without teaching them how to use it and showing them how well it works is cruel. They are far more likely to get frustrated and give up.
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-- Siegfried
A genuine interest is what is needed, instruction or not. If they have a genuine interest then they will take it upon themselves to learn. It is wish full thinking to assume because they get a scope as a door prize they will become interested.
What's the purpose of giving away scopes? IF it is to create an interest
in astronomy or science, I doubt these little scopes will do that. I am in favor of giving away fewer but better scopes. Perhaps we should also look at the ages of the kids that are eligible and I take some of the blame. I don't think giving away a 6" telescope to a 6-year old, like my grandson, does much good. That is speaking from experience. I would suggest maybe High School and Jr. High School age.
Sig
On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 1:14 PM, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree, Wayne. In the specific case we are talking about, it's also a waste of Zap grant money. SLAS gives away telescopes just so they can say that they give out telescopes.
On Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 1:01 PM, Wayne Sumner <WSUMNER@dsdmail.net> wrote:
Giving a telescope to someone without teaching them how to use it and showing them how well it works is cruel. They are far more likely to get frustrated and give up.
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-- Siegfried _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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participants (5)
-
Chuck Hards -
Dale Wilson -
Erik Hansen -
Siegfried Jachmann -
Wayne Sumner