The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
EDUCATION / VALUE TO SOCIETY
The greatest evils of populous society have ever appeared to me to
spring from the vicious distribution of its members among the
occupations called for. I have no doubt that those nations are
essentially right, which leave this to individual choice, as a better
guide to an advantageous distribution than any other which could be
devised. But when, by a blind concourse, particular occupations are
ruinously overcharged, and others left in want of hands, the national
authorities can do much towards restoring the equilibrium. On the
revival of letters, learning became the universal favorite. And with
reason, because there was not enough of it existing to manage the
affairs of a nation to the best advantage, nor to advance its
individuals to the happiness of which they were susceptible, by
improvements in their minds, their morals, their health, and in those
conveniences which contribute to the comfort and embellishment of
life. All the efforts of the society, therefore, were directed to the
increase of learning, and the inducements of respect, ease, and profit
were held up for its encouragement. Even the charities of the nation
forgot that misery was their object, and spent themselves in founding
schools to transfer to science the hardy sons of the plough. To these
incitements were added the powerful fascinations of great cities.
These circumstances have long since produced an overcharge in the
class of competitors for learned occupation, and great distress among
the supernumerary candidates; and the more, as their habits of life
have disqualified them for re-entering into the laborious class. The
evil cannot be suddenly, nor perhaps ever entirely cured: nor should I
presume to say by what means it may be cured. Doubtless there are many
engines which the nation might bring to bear on this object. Public
opinion, and public encouragement are among these.
The class principally defective is that of agriculture. It is the
first in utility, and ought to be the first in respect. The same
artificial means which have been used to produce a competition in
learning, may be equally successful in restoring agriculture to its
primary dignity in the eyes of men. It is a science of the very first
order. It counts among its handmaids the most respectable sciences,
such as Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Mechanics, Mathematics
generally, Natural History, Botany. In every College and University, a
professorship of agriculture, and the class of its students, might be
honored as the first. Young men closing their academical education
with this, as the crown of all other sciences, fascinated with its
solid charms, and at a time when they are to choose an occupation,
instead of crowding the other classes, would return to the farms of
their fathers, their own, or those of others, and replenish and
invigorate a calling, now languishing under contempt and oppression.
The charitable schools, instead of storing their pupils with a lore
which the present state of society does not call for, converted into
schools of agriculture, might restore them to that branch qualified to
enrich and honor themselves, and to increase the productions of the
nation instead of consuming them. A gradual abolition of the useless
offices, so much accumulated in all governments, might close this
drain also from the labors of the field, and lessen the burdens
imposed on them. By these, and the better means which will occur to
others, the surcharge of the learned, might in time be drawn off to
recruit the laboring class of citizens, the sum of industry be
increased, and that of misery diminished.
Among the ancients, the redundance of population was sometimes
checked by exposing infants. To the moderns, America has offered a
more humane resource. Many, who cannot find employment in Europe,
accordingly come here. Those who can labor do well, for the most part.
Of the learned class of emigrants, a small portion find employments
analogous to their talents. But many fail, and return to complete
their course of misery in the scenes where it began. Even here we find
too strong a current from the country to the towns; and instances
beginning to appear of that species of misery; which you are so
humanely endeavoring to relieve with you. Although we have in the old
countries of Europe the lesson of their experience to warn us, yet I
am not satisfied we shall have the firmness and wisdom to profit by
it. The general desire of men to live by their heads rather than
their hands, and the strong allurements of great cities to those who
have any turn for dissipation, threaten to make them here, as in
Europe, the sinks of voluntary misery.
to David Williams, 14 November 1803
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