Emily Hartigan wrote that " reference to the strength of Jefferson's
Virginia's educational system sparks a resistance in me: Jefferson is
not a model of all he is touted to be in MANY ways, and Virginia's
public education system is a potent illustration."
I can't speak to Emily's personal experiences in Norfolk's public schools,
but I would like to underscore the danger of putting too much reliance on
either Jefferson's model for Virginia, or Virginia's history with respect
to education.
Though Jefferson did succeed in his quest to establish UVA, his model for
public education was rejected each time it was offered. Public financing
at the parish level was available for the education of poor children since
Colonial times, but Virginia did not have anything that could be called "a
public school system" until 1871. Much to Jefferson's consternation, the
Virginia Literary Fund (established in 1810) was used to pay some of the
costs associated with denominational Sunday schools.
We have been doing extensive work on Virginia's experience in education for
quite some time, and hope to have something in print as soon as it is
finished.
Bob Destro
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Robert A. Destro Destro at law.cua.edu
Columbus School of Law 202-319-5202
The Catholic University of America fax:202-319-4498
Washington, D.C. 20064-8005 http://www.law.cua.edu