In 1909, educator Nannie Helen Burroughs founded the National Training School for Women and Girls in Washington, D.C. The school's curriculum was notable for requiring all students to complete coursework in Black history and racial pride alongside vocational training in domestic science and professional work. Which of the following best explains how Burroughs's curriculum addressed the contemporary debates over Black education?
- It bridged the divide between industrial education and liberal arts by combining vocational skills for economic self-reliance with cultural education to foster racial pride and leadership.Answer
- BIt rejected vocational and domestic training entirely, focusing exclusively on a classical liberal arts curriculum to prepare a select elite for immediate political action.
- CIt adopted Booker T. Washington's industrial model without modification, prioritizing manual labor while strictly avoiding political activism or racial history courses to appease white donors.
- DIt focused solely on preparing students for emigration and missionary work in Africa, reflecting a belief that African Americans could not achieve equality in the United States.
Answer
Burroughs's curriculum bridged the divide between industrial education and liberal arts by combining vocational skills for economic self-reliance with cultural education to foster racial pride and leadership.
The correct answer explains that Burroughs's educational philosophy integrated vocational training for practical self-reliance with cultural history to foster racial pride. This bridged the historical divide between industrial education (advocated by Booker T. Washington) and classical liberal arts (advocated by W.E.B. Du Bois).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Burroughs's synthesis of vocational education, liberal arts, and racial pride