The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-04-18
EDUCATIONAL POSSIBILITIES OF THE
NEGRO.

bIdu roiuouleSj oSpcCldiiy 10 ILLS
true in regard to the so-called
Negro question. Yet l think l
may be justified in saying that up
to this time the chief mistake
that has been made in the educa-
tion of my people has been lack
of a solid foundation.
BY this | mean that the average
Negro lacks the primary training
for good citizenship-that of
thorough, practical education the
foundation on which all perma-
nent success is built. Almost
without exception people of both
races, North and South, agree
that what the Negro chiefly stands
in need of is education.
But the point is, what form of
education, under present con-
ditions, is most beneficial to the
Negro. Unhesitatingly l am of
the opinion that just now indus
trial education, coupled with
thorough moral and ethical train,
ing, is what is most needed. By
this l would not be understood to
decry academic education, for |
do not. Those who have the
ambition and inclinati as we'll
as the means, to secure what is
regarded as "higher education"
should by no means be dis
couraged, but I believe that IN
dustrial training should come first
should be the basis of Negro ed
ucation. This is the training
that will teach the Negro thrift,
economy and dignity Of labor, and
will soonest enable him to become
an intelligent producer in the
highest sphere of life. 1t is what
will enable him to become a prop
erty holder, a larger taxpayer,
a greater commercial factor-in
short, will enable him to knit
himself into the business life of
the South.
1t seems to me that in the past
the mistake has been made of try
ing to run all people through a
certain educational mold, regard
less of the condition of the subject
or the end to be accomplished.
Nowhere has this mistake been
more productive of more disas
trious results than among the Ne
groes in the South. Men have
tried to use with these simple
people, just freed from slavery,
and with no past, no inherited
traditions of learning, the same
methods which they have used
with the white man-"heir of all
the ages"
The Negro is behind the white
man, not from any inheritant
difference in nature and desire, but
because the race has not had the
same chance. This fact, however
that on the account of lack OF
opportunity the Negro is not Al
the same stage of evolution that
the white man is, should not bt
overlooked by those who attempt
educational and missionary worl
among the black people.
1t is with an ignorant race as i
is with child; the race Graves a
first the superficial, the Ornamental
signs of progress, rather than th'
reality. Because his natural ben
is toward the superficial. 1t shoult
be no more strongly impressed up
on the Negro that this is a mis-
taken sort of education.
Surely it is much wiser to teacl
colored girls to sew properly, t.
teach them intelligent and economi
cal cooking, housekeeping, some
thing of dairying and horticulture
than to give them Ere nch and musi
lessons-the consequence of whic
often is, as in several cases hav
known personally, to awaken dc
sire. for musical instrument, whic
results in the parents of the gin
going into debt to obtain thir