A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge - Revision history

ABerkes: link to pamphlet at LoC

2009-05-28T16:19:11Z

link to pamphlet at LoC

←Older revision		Revision as of 16:19, 28 May 2009
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-	As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, Jefferson put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of education: Bill 79, "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge." Its oft-quoted preamble reads as follows:	+	As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, [[Thomas Jefferson]] put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of education: Bill 79, "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge." Its oft-quoted preamble reads as follows:

	<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</ref></blockquote>

-	The Bill was presented in the House of Delegates in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times to the state legislature while Jefferson was serving in Paris as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>	+	The Bill was presented in the House of Delegates in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times to the state legislature while Jefferson was serving in [[Paris]] as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>

	==Footnotes==		==Footnotes==
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	==Further Sources==		==Further Sources==
		+	*[http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/images/vc64.jpg ''Report of the Committee of Revisors Appointed by the General Assembly of Virginia in MDCCLXXVI.''] Richmond: 1784.
	*[[Short Title List#Q - Z\|Wagoner, ''Jefferson and Education]].		*[[Short Title List#Q - Z\|Wagoner, ''Jefferson and Education]].
	*[http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&SL=none&SAB1=jefferson+contributions+education&BOOL1=all+of+these&FLD1=Subject+(SKEY)&GRP1=AND+with+next+set&SAB2=&BOOL2=all+of+these&FLD2=Keyword+Anywhere+(GKEY)&CNT=50 Search the Thomas Jefferson Portal for other sources on Jefferson's contributions to public education]		*[http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&SL=none&SAB1=jefferson+contributions+education&BOOL1=all+of+these&FLD1=Subject+(SKEY)&GRP1=AND+with+next+set&SAB2=&BOOL2=all+of+these&FLD2=Keyword+Anywhere+(GKEY)&CNT=50 Search the Thomas Jefferson Portal for other sources on Jefferson's contributions to public education]

ABerkes at 21:13, 7 April 2009

2009-04-07T21:13:35Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 21:13, 7 April 2009
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	<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</ref></blockquote>

-	The Bill was presented in the House of Burgesses in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times while Jefferson was serving in Paris as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>	+	The Bill was presented in the House of Delegates in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times to the state legislature while Jefferson was serving in Paris as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>

	==Footnotes==		==Footnotes==

ABerkes at 21:08, 7 April 2009

2009-04-07T21:08:58Z

←Older revision		Revision as of 21:08, 7 April 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
	As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, Jefferson put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of education: Bill 79, "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge." Its oft-quoted preamble reads as follows:		As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, Jefferson put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of education: Bill 79, "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge." Its oft-quoted preamble reads as follows:

-	<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</blockquote>	+	<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</ref></blockquote>

	The Bill was presented in the House of Burgesses in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times while Jefferson was serving in Paris as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>		The Bill was presented in the House of Burgesses in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times while Jefferson was serving in Paris as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List\|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>

ABerkes: New page: As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, Jefferson put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of educ...

2009-04-07T21:07:45Z

New page: As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, Jefferson put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of educ...

New page

As part of his work in revising the laws of Virginia during the late 1770s and early 1780s, Jefferson put forth a bill that has become one of his most enduring works on the subject of education: Bill 79, "A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge." Its oft-quoted preamble reads as follows:

<blockquote>Whereas it appeareth that however certain forms of government are better calculated than others to protect individuals in the free exercise of their natural rights, and are at the same time themselves better guarded against degeneracy, yet experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms, those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny; and it is believed that the most effectual means of preventing this would be, to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts, which history exhibiteth, that, possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes; And whereas it is generally true that that people will be happiest whose laws are best, and are best administered, and that laws will be wisely formed, and honestly administered, in proportion as those who form and administer them are wise and honest; whence it becomes expedient for promoting the publick happiness that those person, whom nature hath endowed with genius and virtue, should be rendered by liberal education worthy to receive, and able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights and liberties of their fellow citizens, and that they should be called to that charge without regard to wealth, birth or other accidental condition or circumstance; but the indigence of the greater number disabling them from so educating, at their own expence, those of their children whom nature hath fitly formed and disposed to become useful instruments for the public, it is better that such should be sought for and educated at the common expence of all, than that the happiness of all should be confided to the weak or wicked:...<ref>[[Short Title List|''PTJ'']], 2:526-7. The manuscript of this bill has not been found.</blockquote>

The Bill was presented in the House of Burgesses in 1778 and 1780, but was not passed; [[James Madison]] presented the bill several more times while Jefferson was serving in Paris as Minister to France. A much-revised version was finally passed into law in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools."<ref>[[Short Title List|''PTJ'']], 2:535n.</ref>

==Footnotes==
<references/>

==Further Sources==
*[[Short Title List#Q - Z|Wagoner, ''Jefferson and Education]].
*[http://tjportal.monticello.org/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&SL=none&SAB1=jefferson+contributions+education&BOOL1=all+of+these&FLD1=Subject+(SKEY)&GRP1=AND+with+next+set&SAB2=&BOOL2=all+of+these&FLD2=Keyword+Anywhere+(GKEY)&CNT=50 Search the Thomas Jefferson Portal for other sources on Jefferson's contributions to public education]

[[Category:Education|Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, A]]
[[Category:Famous Quotations|Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, A]]
[[Category:Politics|Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, A]]
[[Category:Writings|Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge, A]]