Jefferson on Education

Thomas Jefferson wrote lengthy letters throughout his life, and as a result we know his views on almost all subjects under the sun.  He wrote a series of letters to Peter Carr, a nephew, in which he discussed the course of study that Carr should follow in pursuing his education.  The letter is grounded in a belief that studying the Latin and Greek classics is the basis of any good education.  I tend to agree with Mr. Jefferson, although I have read the works he cite only in English translations.  The works are valuable in that they are reflections on life, history and philosophy from a bygone age and help us put up a mental mirror in our minds when judging events in our own time.  Many homeschooling parents make the classics the core of their curriculum for their offspring, and I believe they are wise to do so.  Mr. Jefferson’s letter to Peter Carr:

Advertisement