The pupils of these schools sustained themselves by their own labor in tilling the soil or in some mechanical employment. In Israel this was not thought strange or degrading; indeed, it was regarded a crime to allow children to grow up in ignorance of useful labor. By the command of God every child was taught some trade, even though he was to be educated for holy office. Many of the religious teachers supported themselves by manual labor. Even so late as the time of the apostles, Paul and Aquila were no less honored because they earned a livelihood by their trade of tentmaking.

Eleverne i disse skoler ernærede sig ved agerbrug eller et eller andet håndværk. I Israel blev dette ikke anset for usædvanligt eller vanærende; det blev tværtimod regnet for en forbrydelse at lade børn vokse op uden at have lært et nyttigt arbejde. Gud havde befalet, at alle børn skulle lære et eller andet håndværk. Det gjaldt også dem, der skulle være præster. Mange af de religiøse lærere skaffede selv deres underhold ved at arbejde med hænderne. Selv så sent som på apostlenes tid tjente Paulus og Aquila til livets ophold ved at arbejde som teltmagere, og de var ikke mindre velanskrevne af den grund.