What Did George Washington Carver Teach at Tuskegee?

A Multi-Disciplinary Educator

George Washington Carver taught multiple subjects at Tuskegee Institute over his 47-year career. His role expanded far beyond the classroom to include running the Agricultural Experiment Station and pioneering extension education that brought learning directly to farmers.

Classroom Teaching

Carver's teaching style was hands-on and practical. He believed that students learned best by doing, not just listening. His classes often took place in the fields, gardens, and woods surrounding Tuskegee, where students could observe plants in their natural environment.

He was known for his gentle, patient teaching style and his ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to students from rural backgrounds with limited prior education.

The Agricultural Experiment Station

Carver directed Tuskegee's Agricultural Experiment Station, where he and his students conducted research on improving Southern agriculture. This included:

• Testing different crop varieties for the Alabama climate
• Developing new uses for crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes
• Researching soil improvement techniques
• Creating products that farmers could make and sell

Extension Education

Perhaps Carver's most innovative teaching took place outside the classroom entirely. Through the Jesup Agricultural Wagon - a mobile classroom he created in 1906 - Carver brought agricultural education directly to rural farmers who couldn't come to Tuskegee.

He also published dozens of agricultural bulletins written in plain language that any farmer could understand, covering topics from growing peanuts to making paint from clay.

Teaching Philosophy

Carver's teaching philosophy centered on self-reliance and using available resources. He famously told students, "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." His goal was not just to teach scientific facts, but to empower students to improve their own lives and communities.