Recruiting young wargamers is the obvious remedy for the graying of the hobby, and schools look like the place to find lots of young potential recruits. But getting a chance to expose kids to wargames in schools is not easy It's a lot like a military campaign. There is a risk of failure, but it can be overcome by careful scouting, thorough planning, flexible execution and smooth follow up.
The goal of the scouting is to get acquainted with a teacher and get an idea of his/her needs. Generally the teacher decides who gets to make presentations in the classroom, but there may be system-wide rules, and the principal may have a role. You need to scout each school system to see how it works. Some school districts will have a volunteer coordinator who has the job of finding volunteers to work in the schools. Most districts won't have such a person, but the odds are they are open to volunteers. It's good public relations for schools to have people from the community visit the schools. Also there are never enough adults in the schools to do all the things that help students.
If you have a child in school, you can start your scouting by talking to your child's teacher. Many schools have parents' night or parent-teacher conferences. These events give you a chance to ask about working as a volunteer. If such opportunities are not available, you can call your child's teacher and ask if you can help out. The teacher will go into shock at first. Calls from parents are more often complaints than offers of help, But typically the teachers need somebody to read to a student or listen to a student reading or drill math with flash cards, It's usually low skill, labor intensive work, but it lets you infiltrate the classroom and get the lay of the land.
If you have no child in school, your scouting starts with a phone call to the head office. Ask who you should contact to volunteer. If you know somebody who works in the schools, asking them will get you some less official and more practical information. It's probably a good idea to offer to do some of the routine volunteer work. It lets you reconnoiter the school directly and it lets school people get to know you. It's easier to say yes to a volunteer you know and trust. In any case your objective is to find out where your presentation fits. Hal, for example, will probably find that no classes study the French Foreign Legion or the Fuzzy Wuzzies. The Civil War, however, is likely to be taught in elementary school, junior high and high school. Once you have located the class and the teacher, make contact and make your offer. Try to tailor it to the class. My local district has had re-enactors speak on Civil War uniforms. Our volunteer coordinator says they are "always looking for new people" and "love having presentations in the classroom." When I asked if they would be interested in a demonstration of Monitor vs Virginia using models, she replied, "Very much so."
Good scouting can find the right teacher. Now you have to plan the presentation. Remember the limits. It has to fit a certain classroom and schedule. You want all the kids to be able to see it. If you can involve the kids -- great! Avoid certain words. "Wargame" has picked up some nasty associations. "Simulation" is a much better word. Many schools have weapons policies against "guns" and "knives," If you are planning on bringing a Colt 1860 Army revolver or authentic Civil War sword, clear it with the school in advance. In planning, follow the "kiss" principle: Keep it simple, stupid.
Good planning makes execution easy, but kids are unpredictable. Be ready for some questions, and don't bring anything fragile, Relax and be flexible. Adjust to the developing situation. Too rigid adherence to the plan has ruined many campaigns.
Once the class is over, follow up. Ask the teacher for suggestions to improve next time. Leave behind a handout sheet for each student about your presentation and your club. If you leave behind a teacher who was pleased with your presentation and students who are interested in military history and simulating battles, your campaign has been a success.
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© Copyright 2000 Hal Thinglum
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