Link to my work on - The Educational Institute of Design, Craft, and Technology

Teachers training teachers! In 1990 an era ended when the ‘Institute’ finished one year before its centenary. The 'Institute', through its area network, laid on many such opportunities. It was also responsible for - Summer Schools at St. Johns College York, and - Annual Conference and Exhibition of Schools and Trade. A buyers guide. Specialist conferences looking at new directions. Micro-electronics in D&T. - D&T in Primary Education - Throughout many years, the Subject of Design & Technology has evolved from a form of manual training to what can now be described as a highly academic exercise of creative decision making. Much effort has been expended in establishing its recognition as a bonefide subject within a 'traditional' curriculum. Higher education, and the like, found it difficult to regard the subject as having any intellectual relevance, until now when most will say that students who follow such a course are usually fairly well prepared for the Design / Engineering type courses. Of course, industry has always emphasised its value. What about the people - George Day Peter Dawson. Early Developments The Quaker link. The educational Institute of Design, Craft, and Technology. A good deal of discussion takes place as to the place of D&T within the curriculum, and an impression is given that all what we see now is very new. Not so! For years teachers have worked together to develop effective teaching strategies appropriate for the time. Sadly, as with so many aspects of education, teachers working for teachers, thus taking the initiative, is not a politically acceptable state of affairs, and consequently much of the efforts, and people of the past have conveniently been forgotten. We did not, in the latter years, up to the merge of the organisation into DATA (we were founder members of DATA), enjoy the support of Inspectors and Advisers, although many climbed to their respective positions through our ranks. Following my research, it is becoming more surprising that the demise of the Institute happened so quickly. After decades of successful professional input we found ourselves on a very steep slope of deterioration. There is little doubt that specific personalities were head to head, and sadly personal glorification seem to be very much at the heart of these pursuits.It seems that the watershed came when Mac Keith Jennings was president and introduced the concept of a patron which progress to the invitation and except in this from Sir Alex Smith. There was a significant split within the ranks of the Institute ato the appropriate direction that should be taken.s

The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools. Confucius