John Dewey, 1906

From John Dewey's 1906 address to the Eastern Manual Training Association as quoted in Hoosier Schools, Past and Present By William J. Reese:

We know that our present scheme of industry requires a large supply of cheap, unskilled labor at hand. We know that this precludes special training; that the education which should develop initiative, thoughtfulness and executive force would not turn out facile recruits for our present system. And, if we are honest, we know that it is not intended that these qualities shall be secured more than is required to take charge of running the machinery to which the masses are subordinate.

As stated by author Reese, "Unfortunately, "initiative, thoughtfulness and executive force” were not destined to be the hallmarks of vocational education as it unfolded in the twentieth century."

Unfortunately our nation abandoned Educational Sloyd in the early part of the 20th century. Sloyd was designed to build those elements of character that our schooling chose to neglect.