I think the main thing to concentrate on is that the reenactor community does share our love of History in general. I used a Napoleonic Hussar reenactor on many occaisions during my teaching career. He had a magnificent 7th Saxe Hussar uniform which he had custom made in Fr. This along with the entire Hussar kit... boots, sabers, saddle, shako, busby, repro flintlock pistols etc. He did 2 one hour lectures with a 15 min. break in between. I would have him strut around the halls at lunch time kissing the hands of the school secretaries. He played the part very well and it was good PR for my Department. Even the French reenactors accepted him and he participated in their summer reenactments for many years. I know he was also part of the French cavalry at the 2015 Waterloo Bicentenary.
I taught American History to the Grade 11's, many times. One year, I got the 10th Louisiana along with some of their Northern friends to set up a camp on our football field. We had the kids sworn in and given attestation papers. They were formed into squads and moved from one demonstration/presentation to the next. They were issued wooden cut out muskets courtesy of our wood shop and drilled by Sgts. on our field. Lots of fun!
As Department Leader, I could get away with this kind of stuff. There is no way it would happen today.
