The Purpose of Education

The objects of this primary education determine its character and limits. These objects would be,
-To give to every citizen the information he needs for the transaction of his own business;
-To understand his duties to his neighbors and country, and to discharge with competence the functions confided to him by either;
-To know his rights; to exercise with order and justice those he retains; to choose with discretion the fiduciary of those he delegates; and to notice their conduct with diligence, with candor, and judgment;
-And, in general, to observe with intelligence and faithfulness all the social relations under which he shall be placed.
-To instruct the mass of our citizens in these, their rights, interests and duties, as men and citizens, being then the objects of education in the primary schools, whether private or public, in them should be taught reading, writing and numerical arithmetic, the elements of mensuration, (useful in so many callings,) and the outlines of geography and history. And this brings us to the point at which are to commence the higher branches of education.
::Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Report of the Commissioners for the University of Virginia::