Children Quote by Thomas Jefferson
![“I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges for a middle degree of instruction, calculated for the common purposes of life and such as should be desirable for all who were in easy…” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/246/thomas-jefferson-43_children_i-proposed-three-distinct-grades-of-educ_2306767.jpg)
“I... [proposed] three distinct grades of education, reaching all classes. 1. Elementary schools for all children generally, rich and poor. 2. Colleges for a middle degree of instruction, calculated for the common purposes of life and such as should be desirable for all who were in easy circumstances. And 3d. an ultimate grade for teaching the sciences generally and in their highest degree... The expenses of [the elementary] schools should be borne by the inhabitants of the county, every one in proportion to his general tax-rate. This would throw on wealth the education of the poor.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Letter to John Adams, 1795
Education should be universal, tiered by depth, and funded proportionally by taxes to share wealth and opportunity.
In simple terms: All should learn, with levels and fair taxes.
Key Takeaway
Implement tiered public education funded by tax.
Themes
education
equality
taxation
social mobility
Mood
optimistic
serious
Type
policy
visionary
When to use this quote
- public school reform
- higher education access
- science education
- tax reform
- community funding
Key Concepts
public policy
progressive taxation
human capital
Questions to Reflect On
- How can tax systems fairly support education?
- What barriers exist to universal schooling?
A Different Perspective
Tax burden may be politically contentious and unevenly applied.
![“[States and the Federal government are] coordinate departments of one simple and integral whole... The one is the domestic, the other the foreign branch of the same government.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/401/thomas-jefferson-43_branches_states-and-the-federal-government-are-co_2619.jpg)
![“Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly prove a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing [a people] to slavery.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00c/thomas-jefferson-43_change_single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-t_5515.jpg)
![“Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of [any difficult situation] in the easiest manner possible...” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ebe/thomas-jefferson-43_difficult_though-you-cannot-see-when-you-take-one_9828.jpg)
