Innovators and "Makers"

I just read two different articles with once central theme, the theme of education. The approach was different on both with diferent results and outcomes. The article on the innovators was insightful and had much more of a paolished appeal. The article entitled "Makers" seemed to be harsh, cruel, and less polished. The Innovators told of some of the top people who helped to form the educational system today. The one Innovator that I selected was Booker T. Washington because of his rise from being the son of a slave to an educated African-American. He helped to form the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama so that African-Americans could receive an educational training in order to better themselves and lead much more productive and filling lives. I chose Andrew Carnegie as my Maker because the idea of steel and steel structures has always fascinated me. The men of that era seemed to take more risks in their careers. Some of them were lucky and became very wealthy while others did not but it was a creative time and several of the inventions that we have today is because of some of the men during this time period. Washington helped to shape the educational system by giving African-Americans a chance at a solid education and a better life. This helped to open the door for several universities across the country that have provided solid educational foundations for African-Americans. Carnegie's steel empire helped to shape education in the sense that it provided people with the opportunity to have a good paying job so that they may send their children to good, solid educational institutions thus shaping the educational system and helping to further the image of big business. I feel the innovators had more of a direct role in the shaping of the educational system while the makers had an indirect role. The innovators helped to found or establish certain aspects of the educational system while the makers had an influence from behind the scenes. They employed the men that took care of the families and were able to send their children to some of the colleges, universities and grammar schools established by the innovators.