While I am an enthusiastic genealogist, I can see problems with genealogy
in the schools. Genealogy requires the cooperation of people from a prior
generation. If that cooperation isn't forthcoming, the student will fail
his assignment through no fault of his own.

However, an oral history project, while requiring the same cooperation,
could include many people from the community, not just parents. There
should be no end of possible candidates for such a project, and each
student should be able to find success. While the parent might be the one
interviewed, the parent could also be the one to help secure the
interview of a more senior citizen.

If the school would assist with loaning the recording devices, this could
be an important contribution to the local history collection.

Elizabeth Richardson