The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-15
DR. GEORGE PETRIE
 MAKES AN ADDRESS
TALKS TO TEACHERS OF BlR- MINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.

The teachers institute that has been in
 session at the high school building in
 Birmingham since last Tuesday morning
 closed yesterday with the address of Dr.
 George Petrie, professor of history at
 the Polytechnic institute at Auburn.
 Dr. Petrie's subject was Thomas Jeffer-
 son, whom he described as the greatest of
 American educators. He spoke of him IS
 a man who typifed the highest ideals of an educator. because he was great not only in his technical and academic knowl-
 edge, but also in his personality, which
 is the secret of all real success in teach
 ing. Jefferson, he said was the most
 many-sighted of all Americans, a creative
 statestman a shrewd political manager,
 lawyer of learning and practical abil- ity, scientific farmer, a successful architect, the author of the most famous document in our history, a devotee of science and a pioneer in education. There was something in his character to appe Il /, to every one.
 He was educated at William and Mary 8 college, but received most of his inspira- ], tion from personal contact with the l strong men of his state. He was a hard
 student, and became after graduation
 a successful lawyer The greatest of his
 early achievements is commonly consd- 1 cred to be the Declaration of Independ- l ence. He was selected to write this he- 1 cause of his known ability with his pen, ! a talent possessed by few men of his day. | pr. Petrie gave a description of some of l the scenes connected with It's adoption. 1 and then pointed out briefly the fact that | the real Declaration of Independence oc-
 cured on July ?, and that Jefferson S 1 paper, which was adopted on July A. was, l properly speaking, an explanation of the l reasons that led to that step He also | called attention to the fact that to .he l men of that day the list of accusations
 which it contained against the King of England was it's most important part, 1 whereas today men are most familiar 1 with the first part which deals with the | general principles of government He ] pointed out that these political theories
 were not new, but dated back at least l to the English revolution of 16SS and to | the English philosopher, Locke Many af 1 It's phrases are almost word by word repe- I | of rights prepared by Mason. The chef 1 virtue Of the Declaration of Independence | lies In the fact that 1t voices particularly | the popular feeling of it's time.
 pr. Petrle next discussed the reforms 1 which Jefferson introduced in the state l of Virginia, such as CD the repeal of the l law of entail, which was the death lIn6l, 1 of the old land aristocracy; @ the dis 1 establishment of the English church in Virginia tbnD ItGonecaJ h. | regard to slavery. He was opposed to it, l but feared the results of general aboll- l tion. He desired the wisest solution of 1 the problem the gradual emancipation If l the slaves and their colonization in Ar
 rica, but was unable to have this policy , carried out, as the popular mind was not | then ripe for it.
 In conclusion, Dr. Petrie discussed at | some length Jefferson's view on education l. | He considered it an absolute necessity i In democracy If all men were tn | share in the government all must be so ! educated as to take part in it intelligent - ! ly and it was the duty of the state 10 ] furnish this education. An extract wns | read from Jefferson's famous report to l show that he intended this state education i to include six kinds of education-tecb- , nical, business. liberal moral polite Il and social His scheme included elemen- tary schools in every district, high schools
 at various points in the state and great
 institution at the top of the whole sys-
 tenn In his plans the greatest emphasis s
 was laid upon the development of per- sonalIty. Buildings, plans, equipment all are subordinate of personality Edu- cation was the greatest interest of his life from his early years to his death, and the achievement of which he was proudest was the establishment of the University of Virginia.