Indeed it is perception, especially tactile perception through the hand, that largely forms the mind of the child (he cites Piaget on this) Perception and emotion are trained, developed, and disciplined only in the experience of performance, that is, only under the challenge of objective standards that exist no matter what the individual’s ability, inclinations, or proficiency…Today music appreciation is a respected academic discipline (even though it tends to be a deadly bore for the kids who have to memorize a lot of names when they have never heard the music.) Playing an instrument or composing are considered, however, amateurish or “trade school.” This is not very bright, even if the school is considered vocational preparation for the scribe. When school becomes general education for everyone, it is lunacy.

Professor Drucker never forgot the woodworking class he had taken in the 4th grade in Austria. He was not very good at it, but it gave him a lifelong appreciation for craftsmanship.

I would also argue that lab science, involving actual experiments rather than computer simulations, is essential in developing an understanding of which science is really about — “you can always see for yourself” rather than the authoritarianism of “scientists say.”