Warming the souls of children : quilting as pedagogical (patch)work

Abstract

There is a current movement in education and in the business world to bring spirituality and a sense of community back into the schools and workplace. Spirituality in the context of this paper refers to a sensitivity or attachment, not to anyone religion but to common values. Soul in this document refers to the spiritual principles embodied in human beings. This project provides evidence of how quilts, the act of quilting, and the stories of the quilt, tie past to present, serve to bond individuals, and arouse emotions and sentiments, demonstrating how, through both the product and the process, quilts and quilting contributes to the moral fibre of human beings. This project outlines the importance of establishing communities for our children that will nurture their souls and serve as a place to which their souls may come home. It further examines the social institution of quilting as an exemplary model of a learning community. Quilting in this project was examined from a historical perspective, through a reflective writing process, and by actually working through the quilting process, to create a finished quilt of community and children, for community and children.