 |
| Jamestown Settlement |
In April, I traveled across Virginia with my daughter and 125 of her fourth grade classmates. We took a whirlwind tour of important sites in Virginia state history: Richmond, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Monticello. The buses rolled out of the school parking lot at 5am the first day, and we got back, bleary eyed, at 11pm on day two.
Sounds like a dream trip, doesn’t it?
Actually, it wasn’t that bad, and we saved the best stop for last: Monticello. Thomas Jefferson chose a remarkable spot for his home: a mountain in the foot hills of the Blue Ridge, with gorgeous views of the valleys around it. My energy level perked up when we arrived, but unfortunately, my excitement didn’t help the kids.
 |
| Monticello, Charlottesville, VA |
Disclaimer: I graduated from the University of Virginia, the institution of higher learning founded by the great Mr. Jefferson, and therefore I confess a bias. However, although I admire Jefferson, I’m not oblivious to his faults. The whole rewriting the Bible thing disturbs me. And then there is Sally Hemings.
That aside, Jefferson’s home truly inspires awe. He devoted his life to acquiring knowledge, which is evident the moment you step inside Monticello. Maps and artwork cover the walls. Nineteenth century gadgets occupy his desk, and my favorite is an early form of a copy machine. The pen Jefferson wrote with was attached to another pen, which printed up a second copy. Ingenious! But the best example of Jefferson’s love for learning is his library.
Mr. Jefferson loved books of all kinds. He believed books were necessary for learning, and that knowledge cleared the pathway to freedom.
“I cannot live without books.” Thomas Jefferson
According to the Library of Congress, by 1814 Jefferson had acquired the largest personal collection of books in the United States at the time. After the British burned down the Nation’s Capitol and the Library of Congress during the War of 1812, Jefferson sold his library to Congress to replace what had been lost. Records indicate he shipped 6487 volumes. Wow. I smiled when our tour guide explained that Jefferson, in letters to his daughter Martha, urged her to read as much as she could and to plan every hour of her day to maximize her intellectual growth. I looked down at my daughter and said, “See, I’m not the only one.”
My exhausted 10 year old rolled her eyes. But I grinned the entire time I walked through Monticello, because I love learning and books as much as Jefferson did.
After the tour, in the noisy chaos of the gift shop (125 fourth graders, remember?), a patron standing near me picked up a mouse pad printed with the fine quote above: I cannot live without books. The man chuckled and commented: “Isn’t this ironic, since the e-book is destroying books.”
I looked up at him with horror. And then the Jeffersonian spirit filled me. Books may assume different forms, but will never die, and neither will learning. The future of our country depends on it. We cannot live without books.
Do you feel this same need for books? How do you see their relevance changing, if at all, in our society? What or who inspires your love of books and learning? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for stopping by.
Other posts you might like:
The Future of Books Depends on Barnes and Noble
The Pros and Cons of eReaders
Julia
Julia
I appreciate your disclaimer and “fessing” up to your UVA allegience. But I have to admit that in spite of my better judgement, I too have drunk the UVA orange and blue kool-aid and find myself drawn to C-ville and especially the person of Thomas jefferson. (and yes we do have to discuss his confused theology at some point).
His lifelong love of learning is what impressed me the most. Two quotes for you which I have already shared with you. “You will be the same person 5 years from today as you are today, if you don’t read any books or meet new people.”
And my niece’s senior class motto this year was “Live as if you wil die tomorrow, learn as if you will live forever.”
Food for thought.
Fondly,
KK
Your compliments about “Hooville” and Mr. Jefferson are much appreciated- especially coming from a Hokie! (for those of you who don’t know VA, UVA Cavaliers and Virginia Tech Hokies are HUGE rivals; Susan and I have overcome that 😉 ).
Susan, I share your concerns about the accessibility of books in a purely digital format. We will most definitely suffer if everyone can’t have access to knowledge. This rings especially true during our current economic recession, when the gap between rich and poor is widening and the cost of higher education continues to climb!
Oh gosh, I love that my kids grew up here and were blessed by VA state history! And those 4th grade trips — LOVED THEM, especially Jamestown and Williamsburg. (We didn’t stop in ‘Hooville – probably too many Hokie parents. It IS a gorgeous place and TJ was quite a fellow.)
The thing that concerns me with ebooks is that not everyone can afford an ereader. We can’t thrive as a society if only the wealthy read.
Julia –
125 4th graders for 2 days? Bless you, O’ saint! However, going to those different places in VA are amazing places to bring children & visit or revisit them again. I lived near Williamsburg for 3 months, & I soaked up the state: RIchmond, the different plantations (especially the ones on the St. James river), the Blue Ridge Mountains & valley, the different wineries, the different colleges, especially College of William & Mary, fall in VA & more. And of course Monticello.
Jefferson definitely had some serious faults, but as you say, he was a lover of learning. Books and learning have a special place in my life. You need to only visit my post on books & medicine, Julia, to know how books have helped me through some difficult years. At one point in my 20s, I worked in a bookstore & I was in heaven! My parents read to me from an ealy age and they always had books with them. Reading English bks was how my Mom improved her English when we moved from Canada to England. Growing up, we took these long 12+ hour car rides when we lived in the States to see my Mom’s family in Canada. Of course we had to bring books & other things to do. Even today, my younger brother who is 39 still makes time to read books almost every evening – & he has 3 children!. Books & learning permeate our family & have helped me through some tough times.
I forgot about Jefferson’s quote “I cannot live without books.” This would be one of my main motos in life. In a way, books have helped to create the person who I am today.
Excellent & egaging post, }ulia!
Monique
Thanks for sharing these wonderful memories of how books have influenced you! Also, feel free to share the link to your post from Bends in the Road. (I’m commenting from my phone, or I’d add the link myself!
I’m so glad you had the chance to enjoy Virginia. It truly is a beautiful state (but again, I’m biased 😉 ).
It’s great to hear from you all who value books a s much as I do.
Wow, the field trip sounds intense. I cannot imagine being around that many 4th graders for two days straight!
But on the topic of books, I would argue that e-readers/e-books have invigorated the book industry. I find that I buy a lot more books now that I have an e-reader because it’s so quick and easy. (I used the library a lot more before I got my kindle– but borrowing books doesn’t put money in an author’s pocket the same way buying a book can.)
Yes, 48 hours with that many kids can be wearing. The teachers gave us a break in Williamsburg, but told us we couldn’t go to the taverns!
I like your point about ebooks invigorating the industry. My husband definitely reads more since I got him his Kindle. We can borrow ebooks from our library – although as a writer I appreciate your comment about money in the pocket for authors!