Question

Which statement best describes why slaves were not taught to read?

It cost too much to hire teachers to instruct so many slaves.
The ability to read might cause them to rebel against the slaveholders.
There were not enough textbooks for children to learn.
Slaves did not need to read since they were only laborers.

Answer 1

The second alternative is correct (B).

Slaveowners saw these people as a private good that should satisfy their wants and make a profit. Education is a tool of liberation. People with access to information have a greater capacity to defend themselves and to claim rights. In this context, it was not interesting for owners to provide any kind of education to slaves. Moreover, the time that slaves would use to learn to read would be lost during working hours. Unfortunately this was a reality that is part of our history.