- Dec 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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Encouraged therefore by the sentiments of the Legislature, manifested in this statute, we present the following tabular statement of the branches of learning which we think should be taught in the University, forming them into groups, each of which are within the powers of a single professor.
While I do understand that UVA was just starting out and had a lot of subjects to cover with relatively few teachers, I find it a little concerning the idea that a student could go most of his time in higher education learning from the same 2-3 professors within his one discipline. Proper education requires learning from multiple sources and viewpoints and that is often times much harder when one is only exposed to the same 2-3 professors. Of course these professors will try their best, but even the most keen and open professors will have their own bias and opinions on things which will affect one's education. Need-less to say, I'm happy we have a greater diversity and number of professors now.
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A language already fraught with all the eminent sciences of our parent Country the future Vehicle of whatever we may Ourselves atchieve and destined to Occupy so much space on the Globe, claims distinguished attention in American Education.
While I will say this part definitely comes off very western orientated and the part about being "destined" to occupy so much space is a little off-putting, nevertheless it's interesting to note that even after such a small period of time after the independence of our country, these ideas of the states as being one country, one people instead of one state still came about. They founders of the university could of maybe said instead, Virginian education or southern education but instead opted for a more united and country-oriented one. Pointing to the transition into a completely united people, not just by name only.
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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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To improve by reading, his morals and faculties.
The faculties part of this line I mainly agree with but after reading this line my first question that came into mind is to improve his morals to whose standards? Saying someone has good morals is a very subjective idea. Some people may have an entirely different idea of what are good morals compared to others. In the context of the time and creation of this document good morals could also include owning slaves and treating women indecently. Of course this document is more of a living document that changes with the times but the vagueness of this sentence should be noted. And that may of been the point.
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Medicine, when fully taught, is usually subdivided into several professorships, but this cannot well be without the accessory of an hospital, where the student can have the benefit of attending clinical lectures & of assisting at operations of surgery. With this accessory, the seat of our university is not yet prepared, either by its population, or by the numbers of poor, who would leave their own houses, and accept of the charities of an hospital.
Reading this passage really puts into perspective how UVA has changed over time in regards to its medical program. It makes me curious as to what lead to the University and it's medical school becoming so prominent and extensive. UVA hospital is now second to none in the state and well known throughout the country and something like that doesn't start from nothing. To think we the medical part of the university has come so far is astounding.
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