- Oct 2017
-
engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
-
Also the whole of his Slaves amounting to 57 in number.
The wording of this significant little sentence is really interesting to me. Jefferson writes "Also" which I inferred to mean "side note...", representing the lack of importance Jefferson places on the wellbeing of slaves. Furthermore, the note on slaves follows directly after the part about the acreage of the University. It is clear that slaves, in this particular document, are given little to no attention or respect, which is typical of Jefferson.
-
The objects of this primary education determine its character & limits. These objects would be, To give to every citizen the information he needs for the transaction of his own business. To enable him to calculate for himself, and to express & preserve his ideas, his contracts & accounts in writing. To improve by reading, his morals and faculties.
I think the cultural contrast between now and then is fascinating. Jefferson's goal for students in their time at UVA is that they "improve by reading, his morals and faculties." Morality was certainly defined differently when this document was written, as we know that Jefferson held slaves in his own household and on grounds. This stark contrast in today's morality versus an antiquated definition is what stuck out to me most in this excerpt.
-