Who is Thomas Jefferson from Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education: A Biographical Introduction and what is their importance?

Thomas Jefferson was a famous statesman and advocated republican education. He lived from 1743-1826 during the early republic period of the United States. Civic education was necessary in a new nation where educational theory was basically political. The right of the people to determine their own governance was codified by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. To effectively act on this right, educational methods emphasized civic participation, methods of scientific knowledge in education and a unique, distinctive United States culture. Thomas Jefferson was born on the family plantation, named Shadwell, in the foothills of Virginia to Peter Jefferson, a rich, elite public servant and slave owner. At age 9, Thomas was sent to boarding school to study Latin, Greek and French. When his father died, Thomas returned to Shadwell for a time.