Defiance High School - Panorama Yearbook (Defiance, OH)

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George Washington's Gifts to Education George Washington always encouraged education. Perhaps it was for the reason that his education during childhood was limited. Because he was left fatherless at the age of eleven, his means for education were suddenly diminished, and he was compelled to get an education by which he could soon earn his living and help his mother. Schools, academies, and colleges had already been established in this country, but only the children of the rich could afford to attend them. Usually these students went to Europe to complete their education. There they too often received ideas contrary to democracy. The children of the poor people received very little education. As a result, these poor whites sank lower and lower in the scale of living until they became the dregs of the community and presented a serious problem with their shiftlessness and disregard for law. Such a custom would have resulted in the demoralization of the United States. Washington saw this evilg he also saw a remedy for it-more children should attend schools, and institutions of higher learning in the United States should be encouraged. With Washington, to think was to act. He gave one thousand pounds, the interest of which was to be appropriated in instituting a school in Alexandria for the purpose of educating orphan children and others whom the trustees considered worthy and in need of such help. The trustees of the academy administered this fund until free schools were established in Alexandria. This gift to Alexandria Academy was the first of W3Sl1lHgtOH,S educational interests mentioned in his will. The second gift mentioned in that document consisted of his shares in the james River Company which he donated to Liberty Hall Academy at Lexington, Virginia. These shares had been a gift to Washington, and, in order not to appear unappreciative, he consented to hold them in trust until they would be turned over to some worthy educational institution in Virginia or any other school of which the donor would approve. Liberty Hall Academy was then in dire need of funds. So, when Mr. Graham, rector of the institution, learned of the gift with which Washington intended to endow some school, he explained the situation to Washington who, after some consideration, decided in favor of the academy. To express their gratitude, the trustees of the academy changed the name of their school to Washington College and conferred upon their bene- factor the degree of doctor of laws. Washington also helped besides his stepchildren many boys to obtain their educaf tions. He undertook the expense of Bushrod Washington's law studiesg he placed two other nephews in the school at Georgetown, he offered a substantial sum toward the training of George Washingtcin Craik, son of his friend and physician, Dr. james Craikg he paid for the education of Thomas Posey, son of Captain john Posey, and for that of John V. Weylie, simply because the latter had been recommended as of unusual promise. Washington had a noble desire that there be established in the Federal City, now Washington, D. C. fwhich was then being plannedj, a national university. He be' lieved that such a university, attended by young people from all quarters of the country, ideas would be exchanged and sectional prejudices forgotten, to the benefit of all. He persistently urged Congress to make some provision for such an institution, and be- queathed fifty shares of stock in the Potomac Company, considered worth 5,000 pounds, to induce Congress to carry out his plan. But Congress failed to act, and the ,Potomac Company failed, so Washington's design was doubly nullified. Nevertheless that dream still lingers in the hearts of noble men and women, and some day it may materialize and be a tribute to George Washington, patron of education. -Samuel T. Kaetzel.

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