3 Matching Annotations
  1. Dec 2017
    1. with a knolege of the languages, Hebrew, Greek and Latin

      I find this particular paragraph interesting because of Jefferson's beliefs regarding religion and its place at the University of Virginia. He was very much focused on providing the resources and academic abilities that were needed in order for students to independently reason through religious texts. The selected portion of text highlights Jefferson's perspective on what a person should know in order to do this tedious task effectively. Understanding ancient languages such as Hebrew, Greek, and Latin would allow students to analyze primary source documents so the information each person gained was solely up to their own interpretation. Jefferson's view on discovering religion has been heavily scrutinized due to his practice of literally using scissors to cut pieces of the Bible out and pasting other sections in to create his own biblical text termed the Jefferson Bible. For example, in a Humanist.com article from February 2012, Peter Carlson argues that such a radical method would have most definitely prevented Jefferson from being elected in today's society. However, I believe such an act was Jefferson's way of separating spirituality from formal education. By making religious study a much more personal endeavor, the earliest UVA students would be able to form their own conclusions about the texts without being heavily influenced by other parties. https://thehumanist.com/magazine/march-april-2012/features/the-bible-according-to-thomas-jefferson

  2. Oct 2017
    1. to appoint & remove professors, two thirds of the whole number of visitors voting for the removal

      In order to remove a professor, a vote must be taken and a two thirds majority is required from the board of visitors. This procedure very closely parallels the process of impeaching a president. In the presidential impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson, the senate required a two thirds vote for impeachment, but the vote was one short with a vote of 35 to 19. This clause of the report illustrates the similarities that Jefferson and the other others felt were important to any governing body whether this be a learning institution or a nation. -Graham Quinn

    2. To seek this finishing elsewhere, must therefore be submitted to for a while.

      During the founding of the university, there was insufficient resources to construct a facility for students studying medicine to fully master their professional skills. Even though a complete medical education was not be provided, Jefferson still insisted that medicine be included as a discipline. This would require students to eventually leave UVA, but Jefferson agreed that this was the best option because it was the best way to prepare for the future medical program. I feel Jefferson's mentality to include medicine without a hospital setting demonstrates his ability to think about the possibilities of the future in addition to how he well he could focus on preparing for these future times. -Graham Quinn