So,
I was actually supposed to post this last Friday, but then it got pushed to last night, and THEN I was sooo busy that I came right in last night and fell asleep. Now I'm awake and I'm posting it.
I've been thinking about maybe creating a website on how to be a good/thoughtful tour guide. With all of the controversy now surrounding a new ordinance to test the knowledge and content of tour guides here in Philadelphia, I thought it would be relevant. The Associated Press wrote an article about the tour guide controversy. I think that it might be beneficial to have a website out there about it. I could take pictures of my colleagues at my job, and organize them into a nice, friendly, step by step guide.
Now, as for my opinion on the controversy, I have absolutely NO problem with making tour guides take a test. At Eastern State, we have to take TWO tests. Apparently, the turnover rate for the big bus tours, the trolley tours, and some other historical tours in Philadelphia is very high, and consequently, the employees don't always learn everything right, and they don't tell the truth to the folks who have paid them to give a tour. That is my problem. The folks who are suing against this new ordinance, are suing because they feel it is their first amendment right for free speech! It is not a constitutional right to mislead people who have paid you to tell them the truth. It mostly focuses around a power struggle between the city and the city and the organization of tour guides. But I think they are being totally ridiculous. People on the trolley tours and big bus tours mislead people all the time about Eastern State Penitentiary. We get folks coming to visit us who say all sorts of inaccuracies about the prison that they just heart their big bus tour guide tell them.
The argument against tour guides not having to take a history test is just like saying that any teacher, professor, or professional educator should not have to demonstrate his or her abilities, and that the "League of Teachers" can police themselves. No way! There are certain educational standards that are set for teachers, just as there should be for any educators, including tour guides.
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5 comments:
Very interesting topic. When I worked at a four star french restaurant, we had classes and got tested every week. I failed one test (due to non-study) and it cost me- I was taken off the schedule for one night. I wonder if we should get tested as librarians?
We had a licensed tour guide for our recent trip to Gettysburg who said he was tested every 6 months (no 2 tests the same). Being made aware of this as consumers, we were secure in feeling that not only was his information authoritative but that we were getting our money's worth for the tour as well.
I was completely unaware of this controversial new ordinance- what an interesting topic. I’ve never thought about how much I trust tour guides to give factual information, I think I’ve just always blindly accepted what I’ve been told. But no one has ever told me Ben Franklin had 69 illegitimate children either. I’m curious to learn more about what makes a good tour guide and parts of the job like, how to handle a rowdy tour group or conversely, a group that seems disinterested.--Beth
A very interesting topic, indeed. I worked in a very upscale gift shop for several years and we had to take a test on our anniversary. It covered merchandise as well as store policies. I found it annoying at the time (probably because I was much younger), but now understand the usefulness of it.
Given that the tour guide topic has been in the news, the website would be a great idea. You could link to various articles and editorials both for and against the testing.
Michelle
I tend to agree that certifying tour guides is a good idea. However, I know a guy who is one of the parties in the lawsuit and he told me over the weekend that one of the issues is fairness: not all tour guides will be required to be tested; the ordinance includes exemptions for some businesses. His suggestion was to make the certification optional and leave it to the customer to decide.
Not necessarily my opinion - just sharing another perspective.
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