The first major essay I wrote in my 9th grade ELA class giving the ideas of an excerpt from "Notes on The State of Virginia" a book written by Thomas Jefferson the 3rd president of the U.S.
As stated previously, this is an essay that summarizes the idea of Thomas Jefferson regarding the topic of education. It will cover what Jefferson's thinks of education and how it will potentially solve one of the major problem during that age. Please enjoy.
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson’s Idea About Education
During the 1700s, corruption was one of the biggest problems going on in the world. Thomas Jefferson was one man who saw that problem and wanted to solve it, the solution for him was education. Jefferson’s ideas of how education could help fight corruption were by making people understand mankind’s mistakes, fighting for their liberty, and giving back the right to vote to the masses.
Learning about history could make people understand what mistakes humanity had made in the past. The reason behind learning history is to not follow it, this would make a brighter future. Jefferson stated, “History by apprising them of the past will enable them to judge of the future.” Teaching the newer generations about history would make them know what mistakes were made, the effect of those mistakes, and how not to follow those mistakes.
Back then, people didn’t acknowledge or truly understand their rights or liberty. Education would teach people what their rights are and how to earn it back. According to Jefferson, “Than that of rendering the people the safe, as they are the ultimate, guardians of their own liberty.” This shows the situation when the newer generations are educated to a certain level; they would understand their rights, how unfair corruption is, and protect their independence. They would understand and fight back corruption.
One of the causes of corruption back then was the improper voting system. Previously, the people who has the right to vote are the wealthier and more educated people. Based on Jefferson, “It has been thought that corruption is restrained by confining the right of suffrage to a few of the wealthier of the people.” Just as mentioned earlier, the people who were voting back then was the skilled and substantial part of society, but in reality, everyone has the right to vote. Education would gain them the right to vote and the knowledge to eventually, fight back the rotten system.
The three key ideas of how education could fight back corruption in Jefferson’s mind were: learning how not to follow humanity’s mistakes, gain back their rights, and bring back the voting system for the public. Jefferson’s ideas would most likely solve the problem of corruption in the U.S.A, gaining back the independence everyone has. Corruption would be a smaller and a more solvable problem in the world.
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