- Nov 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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And generally to form them to habits of reflection, and correct action, rendering them examples of virtue to others & of happiness within themselves.
I find this line interesting because it includes virtues, reflection, and correct action as important parts of education. This document mentions morals and virtue multiple times. I think of these as important skills to learn but I'm not sure if I've ever considered them necessary parts of education in school. Did they want these things to be directly taught in classes or just learned through experience and less directly? Eva Jasinski
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To give to every citizen the information he needs for the transaction of his own business.
This is an interesting statement because offers a glimpse into what the authors of this document thought should be the goal of education. Now business is offered as a major or something to focus on in particular classes but here it is offered as an important part of primary education. What did they believe was included in the information each citizen needs to know for the transaction of their own business? What do they mean by business here is it everyday deals, actually running a business, or something else? Eva Jasinski
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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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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;
This line in particular relates to the provided document in resources, "A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom." That bill states "That to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical; that even the forcing him to support this or that teacher of his own religious persuasion, is depriving him of the comfortable liberty of giving his contributions to the particular pastor whose morals he would make his pattern, and whose powers he feels most persuasive to righteousness [...]" This discusses how wrong it is to force a religion onto others and it seems in The Rockfish Gap report that UVA was founded with the same principles in mind. I find the seemingly progressive and accepting view towards religion shocking in comparison to the clear racism throughout this report. Considering this, it seems clear that they aren't really in support of all religions but rather those associated with white people. I think what they really meant by "freedom of religion" is the freedom to choose between the different types of Christianity. However, Thomas Jefferson was a huge supporter of separating the church and state so maybe he was more accepting of other religions than I am giving him credit for.
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