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Difficulty: MediumBlack Education, HBCUs, and Philosophical Debates

Read the following excerpt from a prominent educational essay published in 1903:

'Is it not life itself that we want? And character? And is not the training of the hand and the eye, or the teaching of how to read and write, simply means to this larger end? ... If we make money the object of man-training, we shall develop money-makers but not necessarily men.'

Based on the excerpt, which of the following statements best aligns with the author's educational philosophy?

  1. Education must prioritize the development of character and complete human potential rather than focusing solely on economic utility.Answer
  2. B
    Educational institutions should prioritize practical industrial training and manual labor as the primary path to racial advancement.
  3. C
    Black Americans should reject domestic educational institutions and emigrate to establish separate schools in West Africa.
  4. D
    Formal education should be restricted to spiritual instruction within religious organizations to ensure community cohesion.

Answer

Education must prioritize the development of character and complete human potential rather than focusing solely on economic utility.
The correct answer correctly interprets W.E.B. Du Bois's argument in 'The Souls of Black Folk' (1903). Du Bois argues that education must focus on 'man-training' and the development of character, rather than just training the hand or preparing students for economic utility ('money-makers'). This represents the classical liberal arts philosophy, which sought to cultivate intellectual leaders who could fight for civil rights.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the quote's focus on the goals of education.
The author distinguishes between 'man-training' (developing character and life) and 'money-making' (economic focus), stating that training the hand or learning to read are merely means to a larger end.
This establishes that the author values a humanistic, liberal arts approach to education over a purely vocational or economic one.
2
Identify the historical context and author.
The quote is from W.E.B. Du Bois's 1903 work 'The Souls of Black Folk,' specifically critiquing the industrial education model promoted by Booker T. Washington.
Knowing the author and context helps clarify the philosophical contrast between liberal arts leadership ('the Talented Tenth') and industrial compromise.
3
Evaluate the options against the excerpt's argument.
The statement emphasizing character and complete human potential over economic utility aligns directly with the author's message, while the other options represent opposing philosophies, emigrationism, or religious restriction.
This confirms the correct option based on text analysis and historical understanding of the education debate.

Key Concept

The philosophical debate between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington regarding liberal arts versus vocational education for Black Americans.
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Topics

Black Education, HBCUs, and Philosophical Debates

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