Caymanian heritage kept alive in schools
(L-R) Prospect Primary students Zanahria Chambers, Davonte Howell, Jahziah Johnson and Aysia Mason roll dough to make fritters
(CNS): The Heritage Arts programme has begun its fourth year as part of the curriculum in Government schools, reaching more students than ever with its comprehensive syllabus that includes Caymanian art, history, culture and cuisine. Young people are able to obtain a broad understanding of Caymanian culture, art and heritage through weekly interaction with local highly skilled instructors.
The programme runs in Government and private schools, the Lighthouse School, the Sunrise Adult Learning Centre and on Cayman Brac.
Ceronne Glasgow, year six teacher at Prospect Primary School, praised the programme and its director, Chris Christian of Cayman Traditional Arts.
“Mr. Christian has been a welcome addition to the staff at Prospect Primary School. He introduced the Heritage Arts programme four years ago to the year six students,” she said.
“Each week the students are treated to an interesting and varied programme which includes hands-on experience at making and using arts and crafts, storytelling, making and sampling of Caymanian dishes and painting on canvas.”
Glasgow added that the students are always excited when Christian or his assistants arrive. “They look forward to the food samples and the hands-on experience with the artifacts and are always so engrossed with the old-time stories superbly narrated by Mr. Christian. Some students have also tried to reproduce the samples at home,” she said.
Christian spoke of the programme’s success. “Through our programme, which is highly interactive and involves carefully researched and drawn student work books as well as hands-on lessons with instructors, young people can see our heritage come alive before them. By instigating such important local education among our young people we enable Cayman’s heritage not only to be remembered but encouraged and enhanced,” he said.
