Oh to be a fly on the wall on August 4th. The year, 1818 and in a small tavern in Rockfish Gap, VA twenty-one men gathered together. However, they were not there to solely partake in a refreshing pint of ale. Instead, the men, Commissioners for the University of Virgina gathered together to forever set the stage for future American thought. The University of Virgina is our country's first university, and the only university founded by a U.S. president. These well intentioned American thinkers, led by Thomas Jefferson, together established the foundations and principles of our current educational system which was there established, discussed, ratified then later published. (Thank You)
I suppose I never really put a lot of thought into the inception of our public education, the curriculum of both primary and high schools, and the formulation of our publicly funded universities. (Something which I will further discuss in future post) I now know that I really took the concept for granted and never fully enveloped the details of how and why into my conciseness . It wasn't until yesterday while watching a completely unrelated television program, that I began consider the details and read more about why the importance of education and the adherence to our First Amendment Right became such a critical component of the United States of America and our government and the subject of much debate today in political banter.
In the television program, the point was made that while seeking advice from John Adams about the professors of our Nation's first university, Adams suggested that Jefferson should not look for professors in Europe as the components of Christianity and education were so entwined that the educators would be unable to teach pragmatically and leave religion and God out of it, thereby violating our Constitution and First Amendment Right.
In the Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia, Jefferson points out that in the United States, all religions are equal. He writes "In conformity with the principles of our Constitution which places all sects of religion on equal footing, with the jealousies of the different sects in guarding that equality from encroachment and surprise, and with the sentiments of the Legislature in favor of freedom of religion, manifested on former occasions, we have proposed no professor of divinity. . ." thereby intentionally not integrating religion as a lesson funded by public monies and later Jefferson did make provisions for future private universities that chose to teach divinity ensuring a cohesiveness in educated minds. A value forever instilled in the American collective.
Inevitably, my mind wandered toward the catechism and contention concerning the Pledge of Allegiance and its place in the the protocol and regimen of public, primary schools. As many people know the addition of "Under God" was not added to the Pledge of Allegiance until the Cold War in 1954 and was clearly added for a passive aggressive religious stance to the world. As a child, I remember the daily ritual, facing the flag with my right hand over my heart and reciting the words not really paying attention to nor contemplating their meaning it reminded me of another oration habitually performed in another arena. I was raised Lutheran, I recited the Apostle's Creed as a child and recited every Sunday at church; again without paying attention to, nor contemplating, nor fully understanding their implication until much later in life.
I have much respect for the intent of teaching the Pledge to our children and believe that knowing it is critical. It is an unparalleled symbol of patriotism and loyalty, while I question the legitimacy of adding the "Under God" in the first place, I believe a greater emphasis should be placed in teaching our children what the words mean fully, so they are completely knowledgeable when oath is sworn.
I find Jefferson's thoughts and opinions about education and the effects of our actions on the Constitution and each other both poignant and well formed. He rightfully placed the United States absolute and rigorously sought adherence to our Nation's code. I believe that one would be hard pressed to find a current politician more articulate, educated and as well intentioned today.
"Education generatess habits of application, of order and the love of virtue; and controls, by the force of habit, any innate obliquities in our moral organization. We should be far, too, from the discouraging persuasion that man is fixed by the law of nature, at a given point; that his improvement is a chimera,and the hope delusive of rendering ourselves wiser, happier or better than our forefathers were." Thomas Jefferson Well said T.J.
