Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
contractors, demanding basic 'fixing' skills with simplistic levels of underlying
theory - 'Bricklaying' rather than 'Brickwork'. This ignores the history of the
crafts and their individual, unique heritage, which craftspeople have a duty to
nurture and pass on to future generations; yet today's workers are disenfran-
chised from any say in their future.
The former CGLI apprenticeship system had its deficiencies: no national, uni-
fied system of performance criteria to mark practical work in college workshops,
linked to acceptable standards for site work; and subjective marking by the class
tutor. Occasionally bright students could gain excellent marks for academic work
but barely pass the all-important practical tests, yet still become 'fully-qualified'.
Though these particular deficiencies, to the credit of NVQ, have been addressed
with a degree of success, the former system, with superior overall college-based
study, should never have been scrapped, only fine-tuned. Many employers in
the UK voice concern that a number of NVQ-qualified craftspeople are not as
proficient as required, limiting secure employment opportunities. The author's
experience supports this opinion, as he has many bricklayers, fully qualified by
NVQ standards, come to him to learn higher-level craft skills, yet few possess
the breadth of craft knowledge or advanced tool skills necessary to properly
progress.
Industry and educators failing to recognise and reverse this trend are losing
the highest expressions of the crafts to narrowly tutored 'specialists' and 'con-
servators', unqualified in them. Conservation and restoration were, and must
never be, divorced from their craft homes. They are an essential part of the full
repertoire of a qualified craftsperson - as they have always been down through
history. The author's apprenticeship, in the traditional and modern aspects of
his craft, combined with hard work, study, and dedication, fully equipped him
to work on new-build and the repair or restoration of all periods of historic
brickwork, as it was deemed part of craftsperson's broad range of skills. In this
respect one applauds the ethos being engendered at the 'American College
of the Building Arts', in Charleston, South Carolina, where they uphold many
of the author's beliefs on the importance of good quality and all-embracing
craft education and accompanying training (www.buildingartscollege.us). The
college and the author are members of organisations in America such as the
'Preservation Trades Network' (PTN). PTN is founded on the principle that
conservation of the built environment is fundamentally dependent on the
quality, availability, and viability of the skilled trades (www.ptn.org). Their inter-
national arm 'International Preservation Trades Workshops' (www.iptw.org),
are working nationally and internationally to promote craft education. As Lisa
Sasser, President of PTN states:
PTN was established on the principle that conservation of the built environment is
fundamentally dependent on the quality, availability, and viability of the skilled trades.
