The origin of craft education in Iceland

Abstract

In this article the authors describe ideas from European educationalists that developed ideas for handicraft as a pedagogical approach towards general education. Then they describe the introduction of Sloyd pedagogy in Iceland. This became a reason for the establishment of the specific Icelandic Craft subject around 1900. At this time Iceland was under the Danish Crown. Subsequently Danish influences were impacting the Icelandic culture and Icelanders commonly gained their higher education in Denmark. Therefore the Danish model for Sloyd education was adopted in Iceland. The first Icelandic educational director Jon Thorarenssen went to a course in Aksel Mikkelsens Handicraft School in Copenhagen. Subsequently he introduced Sloyd pedagogy to Icelandic educators 1890. Later craft was established as a specific subject aimed at general education. In the beginning craft was called “school industry,” to distinguish it from “home industry” whose aim was to help homes to be self-sufficient or commercial purposes.