- Nov 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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In conformity with the principles of our constitution, which places all sects of religion on an equal footing, with the jealousies of the different sects in guarding that equality from encroachment & surprise, and with the sentiments of the legislature in favor of freedom of religion manifested on former occasions, we have proposed no professor of Divinity; and tho rather, as the proofs of the being of a god, the creator, preserver, & supreme ruler of the universe, the author of all the relations of morality, & of the laws & obligations these infer, will be within the province of the professor of ethics;
It was reassuring that the exclusion of a Divinity teacher was included in this report. While Thomas Jefferson is one of the most important founding fathers, he was known to contradict what he wrote including his owning of slaves despite saying every an has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However; following the separation of Church and State was a direct following of the constitution and an important one. Though today, the university has many classes on different types of religion which I think is better than having an ethics class on the existence of God. These classes are there to teach and not preach, which I think is an important element of a person's growth and comprehension of the world around them.
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The considerations which have governed the specification of languages to be taught by the professor of Modern Languages were that the French is the language of general intercourse among nations, and as a depository of human Science is unsurpassed by any other language living or dead:
It is fascinating to look at how much importance was placed on the French language during the early 1800s. It was seen as a necessary tool for diplomacy between countries, for that France had been an important world power, especially due to the USA's weak and negative relationship with Great Britain. While French is an important language today, Spanish is seen as the most necessary language to learn because of the high Hispanic population. Also languages such as Mandarin or Arabic are more valuable to global diplomacy than French.
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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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these Languages being the foundation common to all the Sciences, it is difficult to foresee what may be the extent of this school.
Language and Science has always been valued for Jefferson evident in his political writings and architecture. However; I do not see any use of Hebrew in learning a science. Latin and Greek can be used to help one's vocabulary especially in medicine, but Hebrew is an ancient language that was not widely spoken and is not that prevalent in science. The only use I can think of for Hebrew is to understand Ancient Jewish Texts which is interesting, for there were not many Jews in America and probably not many that would go to the university.
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- Sep 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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Three places were proposed, to wit Lexington in the County of Rockbridge, Staunton in the County of Augusta, and the Central college in the County of Albemarle
It is interesting that these three places were considered due to being mostly white even though about have the population were slaves. Rockbridge County had 8900 people in 1800. Albermarle had 14500 people and Augusta had 11700 people. These were medium sized counties in this time, but had a large slave population.
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