Brian James Kirk

Last Thursday, City Council unanimously approved a bill that will institute a professional licensing process for Philadelphia tour guides, mandating that they test at 70 percent or better if they plan on declaiming publicly about the Founding Fathers. We put Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who introduced the bill, on the spot with a quick Philadelphia history exam. — Brian James Kirk

So, some of Philly’s tour guides are a little off on their historical facts. But isn’t this the age of misinformation? The kids love them some Wikipedia.
That’s not an acceptable practice, especially with how much we regard our own personal histories. We are one of the most historic cities in the country, and we want to provide an experience based on fact. That’s why, ultimately, [the bill] passed 17-0.

Where’d this idea come from? Does this have something to do with HBO’s new miniseries John Adams?
[laughs] We cannot do an article without talking about Ron Avery, author of A Concise History of Philadelphia, who came to us and expressed his dissatisfaction with anecdotal stories providing incomplete and non-factual information. Like how George Washington ate dinner with Abe Lincoln, or that Ben Franklin is atop City Hall.

Who is this going to affect?
It’s going to apply to any for- or nonprofit business or individual that provides tours in Philadelphia. It will exempt institutions that have their own defined tour experience, like the Art Museum or the Mural Arts program. We decided to take this in stages — the first 24 months will apply only to Philadelphia’s historic district. After 24 months, we’ll come back to the table with recommendations for citywide implementation.

Guides need to score only 70 percent to pass. Is having a C-minus average an improvement?
It gives us a baseline, for sure. Should those around the table believe its inadequate, we can make changes. It’s a starting place.

What will become of guides that don’t pass? Will Ride the Ducks be swamped with employment applications?
[laughs] I don’t know the answer to that. You’ll have to ask them.

A recent report showed that only about half of Philadelphia’s public school students graduate from high school. Shouldn’t we be concentrating on getting our students to pass history tests?
We should do all of the above. And we must look at the improvements we’ve made over the last five years. We should not overlook the progress they’ve had with [No Child Left Behind]’s Average Yearly Progress. I’m a teacher by training, a former educator by profession. That part of my career spills over into my career in City Council.

I think the real question here is, why not let tourists believe everything we tell them about our history? It sounds so much cooler if guides say the Declaration of Independence was actually penned by Bruce Springsteen.
Put that in a movie. What do you call it when you take an experience and make fun of it?

… A parody?

A parody! Yeah, yeah, yeah. Put it in a parody first and then tell the real story. That’s really not a bad idea. Especially for Bruce Springsteen fans, of which I am one.

A test may clear up factual discrepancies, but what about harder-to-prove stories, like tales of Ben Franklin’s inner party animal, or anomalies like Fishtown being named by Charles Dickens?
A number of organizations must be consulted in the crafting of the test. We want to make sure the content of the examination is legitimate.

Can I give you a quick Philadelphia history test?
I’ll try to pass. This is a good test for me. How ’bout I give you one?

Me first. Who was the first mayor of Philadelphia?
Oh my gosh! I have no idea. I can only go as far back as Tate. Wow.

Humphrey Morrey, 1691. Which Philadelphia street’s gutter did Edgar Allen Poe die in?
Wow, I don’t know. Was it Spring Garden?

He actually died in Baltimore.
Did he really?

What is Betsy Ross famous for?
The American flag.

Well, I guess that puts you above the average.
[laughs] I love your sense of humor.

Originally published in Philly Mag’s Daily Examiner on April 7, 2008.