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part17-第7部分

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which; if duly pursued; failed to prevail in the end。  We have proof

of this in the history of the endeavors in the English parliament to

suppress that very trade which brought this evil on us。  And you will

be supported by the religious precept; 〃be not weary in well…doing。〃

That your success may be as speedy & complete; as it will be of

honorable & immortal consolation to yourself; I shall as fervently

and sincerely pray as I assure you of my great friendship and

respect。







        A SYSTEM OF EDUCATION




        _To Peter Carr_

        _Monticello; September 7; 1814_




        DEAR SIR;  On the subject of the academy or college proposed

to be established in our neighborhood; I promised the trustees that I

would prepare for them a plan; adapted; in the first instance; to our

slender funds; but susceptible of being enlarged; either by their own

growth or by accession from other quarters。




        I have long entertained the hope that this; our native State;

would take up the subject of education; and make an establishment;

either with or without incorporation into that of William and Mary;

where every branch of science; deemed useful at this day; should be

taught in its highest degree。  With this view; I have lost no

occasion of making myself acquainted with the organization of the

best seminaries in other countries; and with the opinions of the most

enlightened individuals; on the subject of the sciences worthy of a

place in such an institution。  In order to prepare what I have

promised our trustees; I have lately revised these several plans with

attention; and I am struck with the diversity of arrangement

observable in them  no two alike: Yet; I have no doubt that these

several arrangements have been the subject of mature reflection; by

wise and learned men; who; contemplating local circumstances; have

adapted them to the conditions of the section of society for which

they have been framed。  I am strengthened in this conclusion by an

examination of each separately; and a conviction that no one of them;

if adopted without change; would be suited to the circumstances and

pursuit of our country。  The example they set; then; is authority for

us to select from their different institutions the materials which

are good for us; and; with them; to erect a structure; whose

arrangement shall correspond with our own social condition; and shall

admit of enlargement in proportion to the encouragement it may merit

and receive。  As I may not be able to attend the meetings of the

trustees; I will make you the depository of my ideas on the subject;

which may be corrected; as you proceed; by the better view of others;

and adapted; from time to time; to the prospects which open upon us;

and which cannot be specifically seen and provided for。




        In the first place; we must ascertain with precision the object

of our institution; by taking a survey of the general field of

science; and marking out the portion we mean to occupy at first; and

the ultimate extension of our views beyond that; should we be enabled

to render it; in the end; as comprehensive as we would wish。




        1。 Elementary schools。




        It is highly interesting to our country; and it is the duty of

its functionaries; to provide that every citizen in it should receive

an education proportioned to the condition and pursuits of his life。

The mass of our citizens may be divided into two classes  the

laboring and the learned。  The laboring will need the first grade of

education to qualify them for their pursuits and duties; the learned

will need it as a foundation for further acquirements。  A plan was

formerly proposed to the legislature of this State for laying off

every county into hundreds or wards of five or six miles square;

within each of which should be a school for the education of the

children of the ward; wherein they should receive three years'

instruction gratis; in reading; writing; arithmetic as far as

fractions; the roots and ratios; and geography。  The Legislature at

one time tried an ineffectual expedient for introducing this plan;

which having failed; it is hoped they will some day resume it in a

more promising form。




        2。 General schools。




        At the discharging of the pupils from the elementary schools;

the two classes separate  those destined for labor will engage in

the business of agriculture; or enter into apprenticeships to such

handicraft art as may be their choice; their companions; destined to

the pursuits of science; will proceed to the college; which will

consist; 1st of general schools; and; 2d; of professional schools。

The general schools will constitute the second grade of education。




        The learned class may still be subdivided into two sections: 1;

Those who are destined for learned professions; as means of

livelihood; and; 2; The wealthy; who; possessing independent

fortunes; may aspire to share in conducting the affairs of the

nation; or to live with usefulness and respect in the private ranks

of life。  Both of these sections will require instruction in all the

higher branches of science; the wealthy to qualify them for either

public or private life; the professional section will need those

branches; especially; which are the basis of their future profession;

and a general knowledge of the others; as auxiliary to that; and

necessary to their standing and association with the scientific

class。  All the branches; then; of useful science; ought to be taught

in the general schools; to a competent degree; in the first instance。

These sciences may be arranged into three departments; not rigorously

scientific; indeed; but sufficiently so for our purposes。  These are;

I。 Language; II。 Mathematics; III。  Philosophy。




        I。 Language。 In the first department; I would arrange a

distinct science。  1; Languages and History; ancient and modern; 2;

Grammar; 3; Belles Lettres; 4; Rhetoric and Oratory; 5; A school for

the deaf; dumb and blind。  History is here associated with languages;

not as a kindred subject; but on the principle of economy; because

both may be attained by the same course of reading; if books are

selected with that view。




        II。 Mathematics。 In the department of Mathematics; I should

give place distinctly: 1; Mathematics pure; 2; Physico…Mathematics;

3; Physic; 4; Chemistry; 5; Natural History; to wit: Mineralogy; 6;

Botany; and 7; Zoology; 8; Anatomy; 9; the Theory of Medicine。




        III。 Philosophy。 In the Philosophical department; I should

distinguish: 1; Ideology; 2; Ethics; 3; the Law of Nature and

Nations; 4; Government; 5; Political Economy。




        But; some of these terms being used by different writers; in

different degrees of extension; I shall define exactly what I mean to

comprehend in each of them。




        I。 3。 Within the term of Belles Lettres I include poetry and

composition generally; and criticism。




        II。 1。 I consider pure mathematics as the science of; 1;

Numbers; and 2; Measure in the abstract; that of numbers

comprehending Arithmetic; Algebra and Fluxions; that of Measure

(under the general appellation of Geometry); comprehending

Trigonometry; plane and spherical; conic sections; and transcendental

curves。




        II。 2。 Physico…Mathematics treat of physical subjects by the

aid of mathematical calculation。  These are Mechanics; Statics;

Hydrostatics; Hydrodynamics; Navigation; Astronomy; Geography;

Optics; Pneumatics; Acoustics。




        II。 3。 Physics; or Natural Philosophy (not entering the limits

of Chemistry) treat of natural substances; their properties; mutual

relations and action。  They particularly examine the subjects of

motion; action; magnetism; electricity; galvanism; light;

meteorology; with an etc。 not easily enumerated。  These definitions

and specifications render immaterial the question whether I use the

generic terms in the exact degree of comprehension in which others

use them; to be understood is all that is necessary to the present

object。




        3。 Professional Schools。




        At the close of this course the students separate; the wealthy

retiring; with a sufficient stock of knowledge; to improve themselves

to any degree to which their views may lead them; and the

professional section to the professional schools; constituting the

third grade of education; and teaching the particular sciences which

the individuals of this section mean to pursue; with more minuteness

and detail than was within the scope of the general schools for the

second grade of instruction。  In these professional schools each

science is to be taught in the highest degree it has yet attained。

They are to be the




        1st Department; the fine arts; to wit: Civil Architecture;

Gardening; Painting; Sculpture; and the Theory of Music; the




        2nd Department; Architecture; Military and Naval; Projectiles;

Rural Economy (comprehending Agriculture; Horticulture and

Veterinary); Technical Philosophy; the Practice of Medicine; Materia

Medica; Pharmacy and Surgery。  In the




        3rd Department; Theology and Ecclesiastical History; Law;

Municipal and Foreign。




        To these professional schools will come those who separated at

the close of their first elementary course; to wit:




        The lawyer to the law school。




        The ecclesiastic to that of theology and ecclesiastical

history。




        The physican to those of medicine; materia medica; pharmacy and

surgery。




        The military man to that of military and naval architecture and

projectiles。




        The agricultor to that of rural economy。




        The gentleman; the architect; the pleasure gardener; painter

and musician to the school of fine arts。




 

        And to that of technical philosophy will come t
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