A report has reached me that Shetland Council has decided to stop providing knitting lessons in schools. It is part of a cost cutting measure and while I acknowledge that we are in the midst of some pretty scary financial goings on, it seems incredibly short sighted for the Council to restrict information and training about a skill that the Shetland Islands are famous for. At the moment every primary school child ( aged 5-11 ) is taught knitting including Fair Isle techniques. Our craft traditions help to define and enliven our culture. They are far too important to give up without a fight.
Here is the article in the Times newspaper and here is the link to Shetland Islands Council if you feel inspired to let them know how important our knitting traditions are. Please pass this on and send your opinions off to the Shetland Islands Council.
6 comments:
I was sort of stunned when I saw that news. I doubt whether a comment from across the pond will carry much weight, but I'll try anyway.
Ghastly. and stupid of them. Why is it art and music are always cut?
that is very sad indeed. knitting is such a profound and wonderful skill to learn-it helps the child's development in so many ways.
That is so sad!!
I'm a teacher in Ontario, Canada and I'm appalled that traditional knitting is being cut. Like in our schools here, the arts are the first to go. It's so sad, what about those kids who excel in those areas? And what about keeping traditions alive? Unfortunately too much of education is all about the almighty dollar (or lack thereof!).
I wasn't taught Fair Isle knitting at school, and it was only when I left school that I took up knitting at all. The only thing I made at school was a teddy bear, who was about half the size of the rest of the classes. My grandmothers both knitted Fair Isle, and neither of them were taught to knit at school!
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