A Nashville middle school centered on museums has taken an unusual step – by becoming one. John Early Museum Magnet Middle will mark the occasion with a ceremony Thursday.
Early inherited several thousand artifacts over winter from a closing museum at the Scarritt Bennett Center. Officials are still taking inventory, but they’ve already set up a dozen exhibits around the school. Instructional designer Becky Verner says many were gathered by missionaries abroad decades ago, like masks, clothing, dolls, and instruments:
“These came from Africa, and you’ll notice on this one, the handle, the bar is made of ivory. And then the base is made of snakeskin.”
A lot of the students’ work revolves around displaying exhibits of their own. Sixth-grader Kiaria Offutt:
“I’m doing a PowerPoint on Rome, talking about the government, how they lived back then, where were they located, and the geographical features.”
The school is expected to add a couple hundred students over the next few years. It’s set to break ground later this spring on a $3 million expansion to add new classrooms and more museum space.
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