“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.”

Great wisdom, seeing that the wealthy can and should take responsibility for funding the needs (such as education) of the poor. Too bad he did not foresee that such a model can and should be applied to advanced studies in colleges too... the government has made a great investment in my own case, investing an amount in my total education that they now make back every year in the form of taxes which yearly exceed what they spent in total on my education... we should do it for all capable youth in this country (as so many others already do).

The three distinct grades of education proposed by Jefferson has served the U.S. well (setting aside the dumbing down and indoctrination). The U.S, Constitution was the united consensus on how best to guard the individual's inalienable rights with no one man's prejudice prevailing against the king and his family (the individual; We The People). Socialism was a popular untried European philosophy during Jefferson's day that was rejected by the whole of the founders.

it was awsome