Maybe the Department of Education should have double-checked the spelling of W.E.B. Du Bois’ name with Frederick Douglass before tweeting about him.
In a tweet that went out Sunday morning, the agency attributed a quote from famous civil rights activist Du Bois to “W.E.B. DeBois.”
Education must not simply teach work – it must teach life. – W.E.B. DeBois pic.twitter.com/Re4cWkPSFA
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) February 12, 2017
The internet was quick to point out how horrifying it is that the Department of Education ― now run by Betsy DeVos, an education activist who critics fear could dismantle the public education system ― would misspell the name of a civil rights leader, especially during Black History Month.
The NAACP clapped back with an apt Du Bois quote, while others roasted the department for its carelessness.
“In the Days of Loose & Careless Logic, We Must Teach Thinkers to THINK.” – William Edward Burghardt DU Bois ?? https://t.co/3m03Vnt5C1
— NAACP (@NAACP) February 12, 2017
Is it funny sad or sad funny that our Dept. of Education misspelled the name of the great W. E. B. Du Bois? https://t.co/egi6Nn15gp
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 12, 2017
Looks like @BetsyDeVos is in charge now! pic.twitter.com/paajsZsUSL
— Mike Flacy (@mikeflacy) February 12, 2017
The department issued a correction three hours later ― with another typo. That correction tweet was swiftly deleted and replaced, this time with the correct spelling of “apologies,” but we saved a screenshot of the original:
