Dear Thomas Jefferson,

 

When you were planning a new country, did you ever think about how hard it was going to be for people to learn how to live in a democracy?  I have noticed that living with democratic principles and solving problems does not come naturally to some people. 

 

I have seen many situations where people are arguing and nothing is getting solved.  Both people think that they are right.  Each person thinks that because they argue better, louder, or more forcefully than the other person, they are sure that they are going to win. 

 

Some people think that the angriest person with the strongest words will always be the winner in solving a dispute.  It is really terrible when this happens.  Sometimes it is not individuals who are arguing, it can be whole groups of people who take a stand against each other.  That can really drive a wedge between people.  It can even divide the country.

 

You and John Adams are famous for your storied friendship that began in 1775.  You are also famous for publicly feuding with each other.  Some people even say that you are the most famous feuding pair of all of the Founding Fathers.  I hear that Adams believed in a strong central government.  Am I correct in remembering that you fought with him because you championed states’ rights? 

 

When Adams squeaked by with three more electoral votes than you got and became the second President of the United States, you became the second Vice President.  In 1801, when you ran against him and took the presidency away from him, things got really nasty, and you did not speak to each other for twelve years.

 

People arguing with each other with that kind of intensity has not stopped in this country. In fact, even in the beginning, it wasn’t just the two of you, it also happened with other men.

 

Do you remember when Arron Burr and Alexander Hamilton got so mad at each other that they challenged each other to a duel using real guns and bullets, and Hamilton ended up dead?  I guess back then, people thought that shooting each other was a good way to settle ‘affairs of principle,’ especially if they thought that their honor was on the line.

 

Unfortunately, some people still think that the best way to solve matters of honor and respect, emotionally upsetting situations, and big disagreements is to use a gun.

 

I think it would be great if one of the purposes of public schools was for kids to learn how to get along with people who disagree with them.  When Hamilton couldn’t reconcile things with Burr, he became emotionally upset because he thought that his honor had been violated.  It would be wonderful if kids learned how to address emotionally upsetting things in their life.  Democracy needs this kind of attention.

 

While this kind of learning is not happening in all schools, it is happening in some places.   Let’s schedule another meeting so I can tell you about some wonderful success stories that are happening today in America’s schools.

 

Sincerely,

 

Katy Dalgleish