Sadly, too many magicians think they should do school assembly programs.

Often they just pick a theme like “Don’t Do Drugs,” “Don’t Bully ” Or any current hot topic on which they have no formal training.

Even worse is the magician trying to do a science show. This past summer, the library reading theme was “Fizz, Boom, Read.” I saw dozens of videos of what magicians thought were science shows.
This Anthony, below, also claims to do science shows in schools. This is from his school show webpage:

Although he sort of explains how popcorn pops, he also explains that this trick works because he uses “magic popcorn.” So now students go home understanding that magic popcorn pops in a box with a genie on it.

Am I a magician? Yes. I even had the coveted title “Master Magician” given to me by peers in the entertainment business. But before I became a magician, I was a teacher. I taught in elementary schools, I taught in youth programs and I trained salesmen and management personnel.

I had fifteen plus years experience as an educator before I did my first magic trick. I learned magic to use as a teaching tool. Most of my school shows use a few magical demonstrations. But, when the liquids on my table change color, after the oohs and awes, I explain the science that makes it work.

Acid and base demonstrations, physics, optical illusions, polymers and even math can appear to be magic. It is wonderful to see these demonstrations, but the emphasis must be on teaching the scientific principals, or other core curriculum targets.

The reason I have been in over 1600 schools in 28 states, many of them year after year, is because my programs are education-based fun, not magic with buzz-words. I am still scheduling schools for the 2014-2015 and the 2015-2016 school years. If I am not available in your area, I can refer you to a program that mixes education with entertainment.