From BBC online comes the scarcely believable news that fishing may soon become an option as part of the school curriculum in Scotland. Sounds incredible, slightly bizarre, but surely to be warmly welcomed. Quoted from the article:
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is understood to be close to approving the study of topics such as game angling and river management. Pupils would learn about things like fish biology and water chemistry. The idea came from Angling for Youth Development (AFYD) – a group set up to encourage young people to take up the sport and keep them out of trouble.
Image copyright BBC
The qualifications could also include topics such as the history of angling, casting techniques, water safety and angling and wildlife law. AFYD believes that good anglers need to have a knowledge of science, geology, geography and natural and social history.
Well I never, what do you say to that!? The fact that people with power over these things are choosing to recognise and highlight the genuinly positive aspects of angling is fantastic. Casting fishing as something connected to nature, with benefits for all, as opposed to something which only plunders is a great step forward.
Seriously though, can you image having distance casting lessons in third perid instead of cross-country running? Amazing thought. And what about fly tying. Some of those `art’ flies go way beyond what I ever did in art class. Definitely potential there..
-
On behalf of AFYD can I thank you for your kind sentiments regarding our endeavours. We are a small angling charity which currently has 3 groups operating in Scotland based in East Renfrew, Paisley and Tayside.
We have just over 40 Level 2 angling coaches working with us and hope in the near future to create further opportunities for communities to get involved in our projects.
Since our inception in 2004 we have spent £40,000 in developing and delivering our project and are currently working with 80 young people in Tayside and Strathclyde. Where we are working we have a large waiting list for places in our programme.
The first of our Educational programmes is now coming to fruition and there are a number of others currently being developed in fishing and environmental sciences to compliment those that are currently in existance.
We would lke to see our project gradually expand to encompass the rest of Scotland over the next few years, but our major problem in achieving this aim will be funding. It costs AFYD £5000 to set up a new project in an area and we require at least 10 committed volunteers to operate it. If there is anyone who would be interested in assisting us in our work we would be delighted to hear from them.
On behalf of AFYD I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Scottish National Angler’s Association, the Scottish Federation of Sea Angler’s, and the charity Dreamstore for their continued support.
-
Hi Grev, thanks for taking the time to post a comment. I’m of course delighted to mention schemes like yours. Keep up the good work! It sounds like a really interesting project.
Comments are now closed.
Tumblr Stream
#rivertweed #berwick #borders #bridge #river #clouds
2 comments