EDUCATION

Question

Issue #1: Vocational Education or Higher Education

One issue that was important to the success of the African American community, but on which Washington and Du Bois disagreed, was education.

Booker T. Washington W.E.B. Du Bois
Booker T. Washington was one of the leading promoters of what was called “industrial education.” Industrial education is based upon the philosophy that education should center around manual labor, economic development, self-help, and vocational school training. Washington believed that this was the best kind of education for most African Americans. In addition to basic skills like reading and writing, it was important to learn the skills that would lead to a vocational job, such as a plumber, mechanic, or engineer.

Like Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois supported education; however, he favored a liberal and classical education, similar to his own. Du Bois also insisted that because African Americans were denied education for so long, it would take a massive undertaking to catch up. As a result, Du Bois argued that attention and efforts should focus on “the Talented Tenth,” a group that equated to about 10 percent of the Black community, who would in turn help to save their race.



Question 7
After reading about their thoughts on Education, match each statement to the person that would agree with it the most.(4 points)
Booker T. Washington W.E.B. Du Bois
Favored a liberal and classical education over job training.

Believed that schools with liberal and classical education were more important.

Promoted industrial education.

Believed that a small group of “exceptional” people could succeed first since educating everyone would take too long.

Answer 1

Here are the statements matched to the people who would agree with them the most:

Booker T. Washington

• Promoted industrial education.

W.E.B. Du Bois

• Favored a liberal and classical education over job training.
• Believed that schools with liberal and classical education were more important.
• Believed that a small group of “exceptional” people could succeed first since educating everyone would take too long.