- Dec 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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the degrading motive of fear; hardening them to disgrace, to corporal punishments, and servile humiliations, cannot be the best process for producing erect character. The affectionate deportment between father & son offers, in truth, the best example for that of tutor & pupil
It is ironic how at this time, the founders already knew the ramifications of fear as a motive, yet only applied this to people of the University who were to embark on academic study. At the time, slavery had begun to lie on the conscience of many people across the nation. Manumissions were offered to those who desired to free their slaves for moral reasons. Thomas Jefferson, however, feared granting freedom to slaves, because he feared that slaves would in turn rebel. He essentially supported instilling fear within enslaved people to render them at a hopeless stance in society, and only limiting the resources of the University to white males.
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of accomplishing what was beyond his feeble force, & of extending the comforts of life to a much enlarg[ed] circle, to those who had before known it’s necessaries only. That these are not the vain dreams of sanguine hope, we have before our eyes real & living examples.
It is fascinating how the commissioners could foresee the benefits of the sciences in society. Even though they already seemed to have a grasp on the consequences of technological advancement, they do not truly fathom the changes which would come. This statement also delivers a clear stance as to the purpose of the University, which is to essentially improving society, and creating a better system.
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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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after declaring by law that certain sciences shall be taught in the university,
The importance placed upon teaching the sciences is very apparent throughout the duration of the report. Science represented societal advancement, and essentially was believed to be a quintessential part in creating a free thinking individual.The fact that it was considered essential for the sciences to be taught under law reveals how essential it was for the board to create a certain line of thought considered more unique and advanced to their predecessors. This was most likely in part to also ensure the future of the new American republic.
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Education generates habits of application, order and the love of virtue; and controuls, by the force of habit, any innate obliquities in our moral organization. We should be far too from the discouraging persuasion, that man is fixed, by the law of his nature, at a given point: that his improvement is a chimæra, and the hope delusive of rendering ourselves wiser, happier or better than our forefathers were.
I personally believe that this holds a very deep truth. Throughout the report, the board of commissioners explicitly and implicitly reveal their preference for white male. Given the historical context from which this report was written, it is almost shocking that they had known the importance of education, yet would be fine with limiting education to a select type of people. The last part of this is especially interesting. The board of commissioners argue that education renders society wiser and happier than our forefathers, yet it seems that they did not consider any of the apparent social flaws within society of their time.
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