Philosophy of W.E.B. DuBois versus Booker T. Washington

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Women should not have the chance for an academic education. They should be trained to cook, clean, and take care of children. What better way would a woman help society? Would she help her neighbor more by teaching them mathematics they will never use or by helping their neighbor raise children? This is similar to what Booker T. Washington claimed about African Americans. He stated that the African Americans should attend vocational schools rather than receive an academic education so they could better further social change. W.E.B DuBois had a different approach to further social change by stating that some African Americans should go to academic schools, while others had trades, and some were considered fools who cannot learn. I believe that all children have the ability to learn whether they are black, brown, honeysuckle, or blue. Children all learn in different ways and in order to teach all children we must discover what way each child learns best. John and Evelyn Dewey demonstrate learn by doing and say that is the best approach to learning. I believe they are correct in some aspects. I will attempt to explain my philosophy on the best way to teach all children regardless of race or gender. W.E.B. DuBois attempted to tell African Americans what they should learn throughout schooling. He thought academics were of the utmost importance in order for African Americans to exist socially in society. Through academic schooling, he thought that 10 percent of the African American society would succeed and move on to become doctors, lawyers, politicians, etc.; they were called “the talented ten.” The subject material that would advance their learning would consist of the “trivium” and the “quadrivium.” The... ... middle of paper ... ... to do. I favor parts of Dewey’s philosophy because it is a hands-on approach to learning. However, I believe that the students need instruction. I believe that everyone can be educated to the furthest of their abilities if given the proper tools to learn. There is no shame in vocational schooling because society as a whole needs people for every job. Plowing a field is just as important as writing poetry, and some people are destined for both. Overall, with philosophers like Froebel, Dewey and Dewey, Strike and Soltis, and DuBois, I have gained knowledge that I will take with me forever and apply in my classrooms. Works Cited Dewey, John, and Evelyn Dewey. Schools of Tomorrow. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., INC, 1962. 1-226. DuBois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Folk. New York: Simon & Schuster, INC. 2005. 1-290.

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