Field trips are often a highlight for elementary school students, offering fun and educational experiences. However, a recent visit to Vulcan Park and Museum in Birmingham this week has raised concerns among parents and educators — not about the tour but what appeared to be a cross-dressing male guide, prompting questions about the appropriateness of the visit for young children.
The Vulcan website invites schools to participate in their field trip program, saying, "For more than a hundred years, Vulcan has embodied the story of Birmingham. At Vulcan Park and Museum, we bring this story to life for students through tours, exhibits, and live theatre performances."
The site's Frequently Asked Questions section advises educators, "Please take time before arriving at Vulcan Park and Museum to prepare your students for their visit. Studies show that students learn better in museums if they are prepared to be receptive to the content through materials such as our Teachers’ Guide. Studies also suggest that if teachers take time to answer seemingly small questions before the visit – about the gift shop and restrooms, for example – students are more attuned to learning."
Parents and educators did just that, preparing a group of fourth-grade students from Greystone Elementary School in Hoover for their trip this past Wednesday.
According to one parent from the school, when the children, ages 9 and 10, arrived following a Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark tour, they were divided into three groups. Without notice or warning, one of the groups was assigned a tour guide whose dress and personal presentation raised questions and distracted the young children.
The male guide is seen in a video that has since been widely shared among parents, wearing a skirt. One mother, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the experience was "uncomfortable" for the children.
The mother stressed that while she and other parents are tolerant and understanding of the individual's rights, they felt strongly that Vulcan staff unnecessarily diminished the children's experience. She reported that the children's questions at and after the event focused on the tour guide, his voice, his style of dress, and other questions related to him rather than the park itself.
Instead, she and the parents she spoke to all agree that transgenderism is "a sensitive and complex conversation" and not one that the parents were prepared to be introduced to during their visit to Vulcan.
She was among five individuals that 1819 spoke to about the event. Each one questioned park management's understanding of what is age-appropriate for elementary school children. Another resident who received the video said, "The parents are furious & kids were very concerned."
Ashley Lovell, a Hoover resident and elementary school parent, was among the many who received the video from other concerned parents. She echoed the same concerns, saying, "It's important that there's a vetting process when it comes to field trips," specifically for the guides.
"The experience that we're taking away or our children should be taking away should be completely focused on the subject matter at hand, which in this case was Vulcan and Birmingham. The children came to the Vulcan to learn, and all that other stuff should be kept out of that learning experience," Lovell said.
She repeatedly applauded the parents, who have been in constant communication with one another since the trip, saying, "Where we go from here is for parents to continue to speak up."
"Awareness and advocacy are important, but we also need to hold Vulcan and those folks accountable." She challenged "everyone to pick up the phone and call Vulcan and tell them exactly how you feel about the situation."
1819 News contacted the school and Vulcan Park and Museum for comment. The school did not reply.
A spokesman for Vulcan responded, "All VPM employees, especially those in visitor-facing roles, are selected based on their expertise and ability to communicate the history and significance of Vulcan and Birmingham effectively."
Further elaborating on the concerns, the spokesman said that Vulcan Park had not received any complaints about the field trip, "Vulcan Park & Museum is committed to providing all visitors with an enriching and educational experience. Our team works diligently to ensure that every guest, especially students, leaves with a deeper understanding of Birmingham’s history and Vulcan’s significance. We value open communication and welcome feedback from visitors through the appropriate channels."
The website does not have a comment section but lists a phone number 205-933-1409 and an email address, [email protected].
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