- Nov 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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4. The best mode of government for youth in large collections, is certainly a desideratum not yet attained with us. It may well be questioned whether fear, after a certain age, is the motive to which we should have ordinary recourse. The human character is susceptible of other incitements to correct conduct, more worthy of employ, and of better effect.
This line skims the controversy of whether fear, or other methods are best to keep students in line. The founders seem to lean towards other ways of keeping honor, instead of fear. The idea that pride in one's own character can motivate one to employ correct behavior is emphasized. Fear is described as a "degrading motive" that uses punishment to prevent bad behavior. I, like the founders, believe that fear can prevent bad behavior, but it cannot produce good character. Fear of doing something bad does not make one believe that it is wrong to do.
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The affectionate deportment between father & son offers, in truth, the best example for that of tutor & pupil; and the experience & practice of* other countries in this respect, may be worthy of enquiry & consideration with us.
This line is especially m meaningful to me, because its core concept is something my parents have told me from the beginning of my education. I have always been told that teachers are like our parents. They bestow their knowledge upon us, so that we can put it to good use and learn something from it. This line emphasizes the fact that our elders, both older people and nations, have more experience than the youth, so it is both their responsibility to teach us, and ours to learn.
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- Sep 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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History (being interwoven with Politics & Law[)]
One interesting point this subject of study makes is that History, Politics, and Law go hand in hand. Our ancestors knew that our history is what guides our future, so past laws will influence future laws. The subjects are not separated like today, but the idea that history intertwines with politics emphasizes the point that the study of man and his past can unlock the ways of the future. For example, if the people reacted negatively to a law passed, people in the future will know not pass such a law again.
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These objects would be, To give to every citizen the information he needs for the transaction of his own business. To enable him to calculate for himself, and to express & preserve his ideas, his contracts & accounts in writing. To improve by reading, his morals and faculties. To understand his duties to his neighbours, & country, and to discharge with competence the functions confided to him by either. To know his rights; to exercise with order & justice those he retains; to choose with discretion the fiduciaries of those he delegates; and to notice their conduct with diligence with candor & judgment. And, in general, to observe with intelligence & faithfulness all the social relations under which he shall be placed.
Although the main point of this sentence is to emphasize the purpose of the Unversity, this sentence also manages to introduce the point of only allowing males to attend the University. It is the assumption that angers me. The dismissive tone of the sentence cleverly hides the significant stance that only males will attend. At the time when the report was written, it was natural to assume that women will not attend places offering higher education. Therefore, the report did not even think it necessary to explicitly clarify, at this point in the paper, that only white males may attend.
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