Final answer:
Booker T. Washington supported practical vocational education as a means for economic advancement, while W. E. B. Du Bois advocated for a liberal arts education that developed leaders to fight for social justice and racial equality. Their differing views mirrored the broader debate between conservative and radical civil rights approaches in the early 20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stances of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois on the purpose of education were contrasting. Washington held the view that education should be about imparting practical skills for economic self-reliance, laying emphasis on vocational training and entrepreneurial pursuits. His stance is well-known through his speech, the Atlanta Compromise, where he asserted the importance of creating good schools and jobs while tacitly accepting segregation.
Conversely, Du Bois championed the idea of education as a tool for social justice, and the forging of leaders within the African American community. He argued for an academic curriculum with a focus on liberal arts, which he believed would nurture a 'talented tenth' who could lead the fight for equality and civil rights.
Their differing opinions on the role of education reflected a broader debate between more conservative tactics and a radical push for civil rights during the early 20th century. While Washington's approach was to work within the existing structures, Du Bois's tactics involved direct opposition to segregation and emphasized the necessity of civil and political rights.