Editor's Corner
Continuing the trend from the November Bulletin, this issue is
dominated by educational concerns. In addition to two more statements by the
Wakulla Springs working group--this time on recommended reforms to graduate and
undergraduate education in archaeology--we also have a review of the CRM
sections of two recent textbooks. And if that's not enough, we have another
tale of woe (but with a reasonably happy ending) about teaching precollegiate
students about fieldwork. I can hear the grumbling already. More on education?
It may remind some of the SAA old timers of the "great Maya controversy" (my
choice of terms) American Antiquity endured in the 1970s and beginning
of the 1980s. At the time, some thought the journal was dominated by articles
and book reviews about the Maya. Whether it was true or not is irrelevant--most
of the articles were interesting, well-informed, and useful. Even if you think
we've overstressed the importance of education, I nevertheless hope you find
the articles stimulating. I can think of no higher priority for SAA and its
mission than public education. Our success or failure here will in great part
determine the future of archaeology over the next decade. On this note, I would
like to welcome Teresa Hoffman as associate editor for the new Public Education
column. All Public Education Committee submissions to the Bulletin must
come to us through Teresa. She can be reached at thoffman@netzone.com.
Authors take note: Starting with this issue, the contents of SAA
Bulletin will be copyrighted. Although authors will continue to enjoy
rights to their intellectual property, I decided to ask the Board of Directors
for this protection to preserve and extend SAA's rights as well. The Board
agreed to this at their November meeting, and I explain the implications of
this policy on page 12.