Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes about FIFTY years ago education in this country was a desert as far as crafts were concerned. It is a jungle where every sort of indiscriminate growth flourishes, where the educationalists’ recent recognition of the value of handwork results equally in sound satisfying pieces of craftsmanship and in monstrosities fit for the white elephant bazaar. The regional accent is pleasing, but lack of confidence prevents an easy flowing speech. If one works all day within the clatter of looms it is not easy to avoid a harsh intonation, and a raucous mother affects all her children. There is a sturdy robust strength about those people, a capacity to ‘put up with things’. This is attitude to their town and their life, to put up with the ugly buildings, the dirty atmosphere, and the lack of pleasing and satisfying order.