Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-07-17
JEFFERSON ON EDUCATION.
Public Schools an Essential Part
of His Plan of Government.

The following thoughts from the
expressed utterances of Thomas
Jefferson on education are respect
fully offered Tor perusal by those
of the County Court who have been
especially active in downing the
educational movement which was
struggling to rise in this county.
The article is taken from the
matter sent out by Southern Edu-
ucation Board, which has head
quarters at Knoxville. Tenn.
"JetIerson's plan for pubic
schools was an inherent part of his
political system. In his opinion,
the permanence of the republic de-
pended upon the education Of the
people. From the beginning to
the end of his career he urged upon
his contemporaries the duly OF ed
ucating all the people. Writing
from Paris in 1886, to George
Wythe. he SAID: "No other sure
foundation can be devised for the
preservation Of freedom and happi-
ness. Preach a crusade against ig'
norance; establish aid improve the
law for educating the common peo
pie; let our counlrymen know that
the people alone can protect us
US against the evils (of misgoverne
ment }" And, again, to Chas
Yancy he wrote, from Monticello
in 1916: "Ifa nation expects TO be
ignorant and free in state of civ-
ilization, it expects what never
wag and never will be-"
"All Jefferson's plans for schools,
as for government, were built upon
the great principles Of self help and
local responsible ity. His whole
political philosophy is summed up
in the following oft quoted words
in letter to his friend Cabell, Feb
ruary 2. 1916. "Let the national
government be intrusted with the
defense of the nation and its for
eign and federal relations; the
state governments with the civil
rights, laws, police and administra
ton of what concerns the state
generally; the counties with the lo-
cal concerns of the counties; and
each ward direct the interests with
in itself. 1t is by dividing and
subdividing these republics, from
the great national one down
through ali It's subordinates, until
it ends in the administration Ol
every mans farm and affairs by
placing under everyone what his
own eye may superintend, that all
will be done for the best" Now
it is most significant that IN this
same letter Jefferson declared his
views with regard to the joint in
stitution of local government and
public schools, and tells Cabell how
to go about establishing them
Jefesson taught that local SELF
government was possible only
where the people were all educated
to think for themselves Public
schools were an essential part of hi
government, and therefore he con
stantly speaks of public schools il
connection with freedom and gooC
govern ment. "The information o
the people at large can alone max,
them the safe, as they are the sole
depositarv of our political and re
ligious freedom"
EDUCATION OF COMMON PEOPLE.
above all things, l hope the ed
ucation Of the common people will
be attended to, convinced that OIL
their good sense we may rely wit
the most security for the preservs
tion of due degree of liberty.
Educate and inform the Who'll
mass OF the people. Enable ther
q to see that it is their interest I
preserve peace and order and the
will preserve them. And it r,
quires no very high degree of edit
cation to eonvSpce them Of thi
They are the only sure reliance f
$ the preservation Of our liberty.
y NEGLECT OF EDUCATION COSTLY,
!, III the children are unlaugll
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