- Dec 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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5. What qualifications shall be required to entitle to entrance into the university, the arrangement of the days & hours of lecturing for the different schools, so as to facilitate to the students the circle of attendance on them: the establishment of periodical and public examinations, the premiums to be given for distinguished merit;
This section details the requirements and qualifications in order for students to enter the esteemed University of Virginia. It also establishes a conduct necessary for the proper functioning of the school. This includes proper scheduling of classes, the quality of classes and admittance of distinguished students in order to create a highly qualified community of bright students and faculty.
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That the said visitors should appoint one of their own body to be rector & with him be a body corporate, under the style & title of the Rector
This sentence shows that Jefferson designed the organization of the school to be democratic. He wanted there to be representatives in order to maintain balance and promote a fair governance. Placing rectors at the top of various school, a checks and balances system could be kept. This is what ensures good accountability and proper functioning of large bodies such as this university.
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- Oct 2017
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engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu engagements2017-18.as.virginia.edu
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Education, in like manner engrafts a new man on the native stock, & improves what in his nature was vicious & perverse, into qualities of virtue and social worth;
Comparing man to an uncultivated tree, this metaphor shows the value and worth of education in a persons life. I think it may be a bit of an over exaggeration that man's nature without education is vicious and perverse and education transforms them to have qualities of virtue and social worth, but the imagery of transformation is to be appreciated. I do believe that education betters one's life in the long run and has an immense vitality in society. However, I don't believe that uneducated people are any less socially worthy than an educated person.
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The Commissioners for the University of Virginia
I think it's interesting to note that the whole board that made decisions for the founding of our esteemed school, were white men. Although, this is not surprising given the time period, it sets the tone and perspective for the rest of the report. The whole decision making process lies on the priorities set by the concerns of the white population. I wonder if there was a more diverse board, how the decisions of the placement and construction of UVA would differ?
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