A Fascinating History

Picture from ottawa.ca

I mentioned, yesterday that I'm in the midst of writing an assignment in relation to design and technology.  I had to choose an item from and find examples from three different decades to photograph and describe, and then describe the teaching and learning inpired by these objects.

In the last two days I have immersed myself in the history of the development of the sewing machine.  What a controversial invention!  Its many inventing contributors engaged in patent wars. The machine was the subject of some significant industrial upheaval.  It is even reputed to have contributed to the devaluing of the woman's role in the home.

And yet, the invention of this machine is the source of a great deal of enjoyment and creativity, even though less and less of us have need of its use.