The socioeconomic factors in the teaching of needlecraft in 19th-century Malta

Abstract

This article outlines the socioeconomic factors concerning the inception of the teaching of needlework in public and private educational institutions in Malta. In the 19th century, when Malta was a British colony, the local population faced very difficult economic conditions, which brought about widespread poverty. The teaching of basic needlework skills came to be seen as a way of improving the social conditions of the poorer classes by promoting domestic thrift and opening job opportunities for females. The study gives an account of the stages in which needlework became an integral part of the school curriculum, by analyzing the syllabi followed in Maltese schools. It also considers the importance given to teacher training, both for the teaching of girls and for the career prospects of female teachers in the light of the socioeconomic requirements of Maltese society in the 19th century.