美國第三任總統傑弗遜是奠定美國教育事業發展基礎的先驅之一，有「教育總統」之稱。他不時闡述知識教育理念，宣揚知識普及的重要性；曾推動《知識普及法草案》，期建立三級免費之公共學校制度，並創辦美國第一所「真正大學」―維吉尼亞大學。因此，本研究旨在探究傑弗遜對教育的思想與觀點。整體而言，處於美國民主政治草創之際，傑弗遜受啟蒙運動、理性主義、自由思想及普遍進步等觀念的影響，他的教育思想偏向功能論。他有關教育思想的論述可歸納為以教育為基礎、理性與科學為中心、實用主義與平等主義為原則、服務民主為目的；也因此，其教育思想可歸納為強調知識與理性、科學的關係，重視教育普及對民主政治的貢獻，並主張教育的平等原則與實用功能。基於此思想，他在推動知識普及教育時，都鼓勵以務實、機會均等與義務的全民教育制度來實踐。

Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, is one of the most leading pioneers on education in the New World. He has a starring role in establishing the free public education system at the elementary, secondary and university levels since the Revolution, and founding the Library of Congress and the first “Real University”, University of Virginia, in America. Thus, the study explores the thought of Jefferson concerning education.Aspired by the enlightened ideas, rationalism, liberty thought, natural rights, selfgovernance, Jefferson believed that “a democracy could only survive with an educated citizenry.” While discussing on education, he emphasized on educating every citizen and training republican statesmen, the relationship between education and republican government, the responsibility of government to educate, the importance for personal development and hope for the improvement of mankind.