From Gender-segregated Subjects to Multi-material Craft: Craft Student Teachers’Views on the Future of the Craft Subject

Jaana Lepistö,Eila Lindfors

doi:10.7577/formakademisk.1313

Abstract

This paper describes the views of student teachers of craft about the future of craft as a school subject. The study was conducted at the University of Turku, Department of Teacher Education, in Rauma in 2014. The literature review revealed that the subject of craft in Finnish basic education is understood as a dialog between the maker and the materials. However, teaching and learning craft in schools and in teacher education has a strong gender-based tradition. The aim of this study is to investigate student teachers’ understanding of craft as a school subject in the future and their solutions to teaching craft in basic education. The data were collected from essays (N = 20) written by student teachers of craft. The essays were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. The results showed that the student teachers of craft viewed holistic craft, reflective action readiness, entrepreneurial behaviour, multiple skills, the use of versatile materials, and craft as sources of pleasure and the main solutions for the future of craft as a subject.

Highlights

In many countries, craft as a school subject has disappeared from curricula because of societal change
The data analysis revealed that student teachers combined conscious thinking with hands-on doing, which is a key element in understanding holistic craft
The data were analyzed in order to answer the research question, "What kinds of views do student teachers have on the future of the craft subject?" History shows that the gender division and content dichotomy between textile work and technical work continue to be strict and stable, despite changes to the curricula after 1970

Summary

Introduction

Craft as a school subject has disappeared from curricula because of societal change. In Finland, craft has retained its status as an independent school subject and an academic discipline in universities. In the Finnish Basic Education Act (628/1998) and the Finnish National Core Curriculum for Basic Education (2004 and 2014), the subject is called crafts. Crafts is a compulsory subject in Finnish primary schools from the first to sixth grades (ages 7 to 12), and in the seventh grade (age 13) in secondary schools. In the eight and the ninth grades (ages 14 to 16), students can select crafts as an optional subject. The basic elements of the craft in Finnish basic education (grades 1–9, from ages 7 to 16) are material and processing techniques, design, and technology (FNBE, 2004, 2014)

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