After learning about The Tuskegee Institute that Booker T. Washington built from the ground up, I wanted to look into it further. I came upon this photo of the students of Tuskegee constructing on of the buildings, I found this interesting because this is what I based my paper about Washington on. The fact that Washington incorporated this kind of education into the lessons he provided at the Institute was very impactful. Not only did the students that graduated from this school come out with book smarts but they left the Institute with many other strong characteristics that would benefit them in life. The very act of making bricks and constructing the building of the institute instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment into these men. Also, through this Washington's students learned to respect. I believe that by teaching these intangibles Washington made these students better people.
I agree with you that this method of instruction by Washington proved to be both inspiring and beneficial. He mentions in his book that he knew that mistakes were going to be made in this process but that that they could not compare to the overwhelming joy and sense of accomplishment that followed the construction of the buildings at Tuskegee. He goes on to mention the satisfaction and pride that the students shared for the buildings as well. He writes about how when people would try to deface the buildings with pencil marks on the walls students would stop them and say that they had built that building. I agree with you that these students not only received an education, but a set of life skills as well.
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