Question

Difficulty: MediumBlack Education, HBCUs, and Philosophical Debates

Read the following passage from educator Fanny Jackson Coppin's *Reminiscences of School Life and Hints on Teaching* (1913):

'It was not enough that our students should be taught the classics and the sciences; they must also be taught how to work. The industrial department must not be a substitute for the academic, but an addition to it, ensuring that our youth are equipped with both the power of thought and the skill of hand to carve out their own futures.'

Based on the passage, which of the following statements best describes Coppin's perspective on Black education during the post-Reconstruction era?

  1. She advocated for a dual-curriculum model that integrated academic liberal arts with vocational training to foster comprehensive self-reliance.Answer
  2. B
    She aligned with W.E.B. Du Bois in rejecting industrial education in favor of an exclusive focus on a classical liberal arts curriculum.
  3. C
    She supported Booker T. Washington's accommodationist strategy by prioritizing manual labor over intellectual development.
  4. D
    She argued that vocational training should prepare Black Americans specifically for emigration to West Africa to build independent industrial centers.

Answer

She advocated for a dual-curriculum model that integrated academic liberal arts with vocational training to foster comprehensive self-reliance.
The correct answer is correct because Fanny Jackson Coppin's philosophy at the Institute for Colored Youth sought a synthesis of academic and vocational training. By stating that the industrial department should be an 'addition' to the academic course rather than a 'substitute' for it, she promoted a balanced educational model that empowered students with both intellectual and practical skills.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical source excerpt for its main argument.
The author argues that teaching 'the classics and the sciences' must be joined by instruction in 'how to work' (industrial/vocational education), meaning both are necessary components.
This establishes that the author views academic and vocational training not as opposing forces, but as complementary parts of a complete education.
2
Evaluate the answer choices against the author's stated educational philosophy.
The statement proposing a dual-curriculum model that combines academic liberal arts and vocational training matches the author's integration of the classics, sciences, and work training.
This identifies the option that accurately captures the synthesis of academic and practical education described in the text.

Key Concept

Black Education, HBCUs, and Philosophical Debates
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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