To Accomplish the Most Good: Booker T. Washington’s Education

In this lesson, students will read about and discuss how Booker T. Washington remained diligent about obtaining an education. They will draft an illustrated “map” of Booker T. Washington’s journey toward an education, and they will discuss how they can be diligent in their own lives.

Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.

• What challenges are you facing?
• What fears or concerns might you have?
• What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?

Observation Questions

• How did Washington’s beliefs about himself influence his diligent pursuit of an education? How did both lead him to contribute to his community?
• How is struggle related to confidence? How did Booker T. Washington’s struggle and his race relate to his identity and his purpose?
• How did Washington’s identity affect his actions?

Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.

• What is the historical context of the narrative?
• What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
• How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
• How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
• How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
• What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
• Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
• How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?

• Identify and discuss the circumstances that made it difficult for Washington to achieve his goals
• Analyze and discuss the character traits that enabled Washington to overcome the obstacles that he encountered
• Create a map that demonstrates an understanding of the relationship between Washington’s diligence, his accomplishment of his goals, and his contribution toward his own freedom and that of others
• Students will compare themselves and their individual circumstances to Washington and his circumstances
• Students will evaluate their own degree of diligence and the ways that they can apply this character trait more deliberately in their own lives