The SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, or MOSAC, is offering free admission to students and discounted prices for parents impacted by recent teacher strikes in Sacramento.
Teachers at the Twin Rivers and Natomas unified school districts recently walked out of their jobs seeking pay increases, smaller class sizes and full health care benefits.
Schools in the districts are still open during the teacher strikes, with substitutes and administrators in charge of classes. But some parents have decided to leave their kids at home.
Located on 400 Jiboom Street, MOSAC has over 100 exhibits and features a planetarium with daily shows.
MOSAC’s free admission is valid, with proof of Zip code, on schooldays from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the week except on Tuesdays. Parents and caregivers of affected students can receive discounted admission of $15 per person.
Marketing manager Meara Hain told CapRadio the museum offers hands-on learning experience in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
“It’s really designed to have an experiential learning experience, and so we think that it’s a great opportunity for a multi generational experience of learning…” Hain said. “We also have planetarium shows that people really are attracted to.”
One parent using the free admission and discounted prices is Troy Sutton. He has three kids affected by the teachers strikes in Natomas.
Sutton brought two of his three kids to MOSAC because the classroom situation with substitute teachers “isn’t very good,” so he figured the science museum would give his kids better education and time to explore.
He said his oldest daughter wanted to go to school to be with her friends, but they’re not getting anything out of being there.
“She’s in a room with all of the fifth graders … and they give her a worksheet in the morning,” Sutton said. “They like to have it done by the end of the day, and she brought one of those worksheets home with me, and I looked at it the other day, and she’s like, ‘yeah, dad, I know it’s stuff I did two years ago.’”
With the strikes happening in his district, Sutton is fortunate to be able to take his kids to the science museum because many families he knows do not have that luxury.
“There’s a lot of kids at home,” Sutton said. “[Parents] still have to send their kids to school because they have to work.”
He hopes the district and teachers can come together, negotiate and find common ground.
“I do believe that the teachers are way underpaid for the area that we’re in now,” he said.
Sutton said his wife told him to take the kids to MOSAC and he will be coming back the following day with all of his kids.
He also mentioned organizing at-home activities and rotations among neighbors to support children’s learning.
“This is a great idea. When I leave here, I’m gonna do a Google review and broadcast my praise for this place, because it’s a good place,” he said. “Better alternative than to have my kids sit in a room with 60 other kids and know that maybe the adult kid ratios, 35 to one, probably 40 to one, that ain’t safe.”
For the best experience, MOSAC recommends visiting after 1:30 p.m. after field trips have concluded and when the planetarium is available.
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