Vocational education, called industrial education from its beginnings during the Reconstruction years, was hailed by its supporters as a means of making education practical and relevant to the lives of its black students. Its detractors, however, felt that industrial education was intentionally designed to prevent blacks from attaining economic and educational parity with whites. This module, the second in a series of four about the education of black women in the South since the Civil War, traces the development, purpose and design of industrial education. The following topics are discussed: (1) the roots of industrial education; (2) the industrial education curriculum; (3) extracurricular life; (4) the 20th century character of industrial education; and (5) the end of industrial education. Also included are questions for discussion, activities for enrichment, and a bibliography. (PS)