So, this is the beginning of the synopsis for the Wisdom of the Hands.

There are a number of things we know about the hands... and I want to summarize quickly what we know, how we know it, and then proceed into why we need to have the hands engaged in education.

First, we know from a long history of the study of anthropology and cultural anthropology, the essential and defining role played by the human hand. Our whole history is understood by the artifacts created or expressed though the activities of our hands, from religious icons, cave paintings, rock carvings, and the remains of everyday objects. The work of the hands are the highest expressions of our humanity. But even deeper, is the essential role of the hands in the development of man as a species. Homo Sapiens has also been called Homo farber, man the maker. The development and use of tools has been the foundation of the success of our species... and may present the greatest threat to our future survival. Anthropologists know at this point that the hand and brain co-evolved as a behavioral system, and are so seamlessly integrated that the hands move out from direct consciousness of them to attain that state. It is natural that we overlook the education of the hands in school. When they are functioning in their highest levels of intelligence and skill, sensing, expressing and creating, we are not aware even of their presence. But in this technological age, to continue to ignore them in the planning of the education of our children will have tragic consequences.

I can't do all this at one sitting and have shop work to do, also.

Here is the outline as it exists in my head at the moment.

1. My own story of engagement in the use of my hands.
2. The human history of engagement.
3. Educational Sloyd, Friedrich Froebel, Pestalozzi, etc.
4. Clear Spring School
5. Stages of development in the use of the hands, adult education...
6. The shaping of the interior landscape of human experience.