- Dec 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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In entering on this field, the commissioners are aware that they have to encounter much difference of opinion as to the extent which it is expedient that this institution should occupy
I love that here they state they are aware of the "difference of opinion" they will have to encounter upon establishing this University. To me, this really embodies some of the democratic ideals Thomas Jefferson was all about. A society, and in this case an institution, needs differing opinions to help it to keep advancing.
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These are the objects of that higher grade of education
In my engagement class, Knowledge You Can Trust, we read Artistotle's "The Nicomachean Ethics," where he talked about there being two different goods -- a good within itself and a good for the sake of another good. Here it seems that higher education us being described as a good within itself. Higher education here is for the sake of a high education and everything that comes along with that. Higher education, as described, isn't about getting a good job or become wealthy, but about the youth "enlarging their minds cultivate their morals & instill into them the perceptions of virtue & order," as well as "rendering them examples of virtue to others & of happiness within themselves."
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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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This would generally be about the 15th year of their age when they might go with more safety and contentment to that distance from their parents.
I find this to be very intriguing that Jefferson thought 15 was a good age to start college. This makes me wonder how people were back then as well as how college was done. As I know some 15 year olds would probably be able to handle the rigor and education UVA now provides, I doubt that a majority of them would. It's interesting to think about how education has advanced over the years, as well as how we spread education out more starting from around 3-5, depending whether you went to preschool or straight into kindergarten, all the way up to around the age of 22-25. This also makes sense, though, seeing how life expectancy was shorter back then so starting a higher education younger was necessary.
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To understand his duties to his neighbours, & country, and to discharge with competence the functions confided to him by either.
Out of all the objects, this one stood out to me most. For me, this statement shows what Jefferson's and the other founder's main value was for our society. Also, with the new college curriculum, where it's trying to make us more of an engaged citizen, I feel through this curriculum this object will be able to be met better than before.
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