From Otto Salomon's Theory of Educational Sloyd 1907

As corporal labour has generally been performed by those who lacked culture, it came to be regarded as something in which cultured persons should not engage. From a social point of view, if we would get rid of the antagonism between different classes of the community, and bring about a good understanding between them, it is absolutely necessary that each should respect and appreciate the work of the other; and that everybody alike should understand that all work, mental or manual, gives dignity to all who engage intelligently and properly therein. All work, rightly so called, is good, honourable, and valuable... It is necessary for all classes rightly to appreciate manual labour, whether they make their living by it or not...

They may think it more difficult to solve a mathematical problem than to make a table. It is not an easy thing to make a parcel-pin or a pen-holder with accuracy, and when students have done these things they will be better able to estimate comparatively the difficulty of making a table or chair; and what perhaps is of still greater importance, they will become qualified to decide between what is good and what is bad work, and thus avoid the misfortunes which befall the ignorant and credulous through the impositions of knaves.

It is interesting what happens when we fail to engage the hands in learning. Craftsmanship and quality of work is no longer considered important in the development of art, which is now only for the intellect and not for the soul. We live in a world in which manual labor is deprived of the respect it deserves, and those who stand tall and proud while perched on the thickness of their diplomas are left feeling incompetent when faced with a material world in which things break, wear out, or quit.