Editorial comment: Mick Waters raises the crucial point of awe and wonder - the visceral, affective impact ‘the real thing' can have on pupils and adults. One rider is the need to give the onlooker a clear, full explanation of the objects so they can come to life in their minds. Otherwise they can be meaningless, inert lumps of detritus.

It always seems so obvious really. Yet, for some reason, we have to keep saying it. For people to visit museums is a vital aspect of life. For young people, the museum is just as vital and probably more so...