Research On Chang Chih-tung's Educational Thought And Practice

Chang Chih-tung was a well-known politician,thinker and educator in late Qing Dynasty.At the meanwhile,as an important representative advocate of the westernization movement,his thoughts and practices had a huge influence on Chinese modern politics and education.As an epitomizer of theory of Chinese-style Westernization,Chang Chih-tung has not only inherited the Chinese traditional Confucianism,but also realized the importance of introduction of Western learning and learning Western culture and technology,which was positive to some degree at that particular time.The objective of this dissertation is to explore the development and practical significance of Chinese traditional educational thoughts on the basis of objective understanding of history.In this dissertation,the internal connection between modern ideological and political education and Chang's educational thoughts was investigated by studying the rich content and plenty practice of Chang's educational thoughts.The enlightenment of Chang's educational thoughts was fully discussed as well.Making a general survey of his whole lif,Chang's educational thoughts and practices both always followed the same pattern,which was from the idea of Chinese-style westernization.Hence,the discussion part of dissertation was divided into introduction,main content of thoughts and educational practices based on the main logical line,which was all about Chinese-style westernization.First,Chang Chih-tung carried out his educational theory under the specific historical condition.The historical circumstances,difficulties of political and educational reforming,as well as educational status of Late Qing Dynasty all had contribute to the formation of Chang's educational theory.In Chang's theory,the core value was loyalty and patriotism,king-subject relation,combination of justice and benefit,and Cautiousness and Moderation.The theory of Chang's Chinese style westernization was carried out with the same basis.Second part was about the content of Chang's educational theory.In this dissertation,the distinctive characteristics of Chang's theory were discussed in three aspect:1)the explanation of content of Chinese learning and Western learning,and the relationship between them.2)Weighing the differences between new and old education system which covered the idea of reforming education,abolishment of the imperial examination system and the foundation of educational division system.3)Discussion of teleology of education and theory of educational system,teaching system and teacher resource mentioned in Chang's theory.As the content of Chang's educational theory was also considered as the practical approaches for theory of Chines style Westernization,so the third part mainly covered Chang's educational practice.This dissertation was focused on the most important and influential practice,as well as the practice which embodied Chang's idea.At his midlife,Chang's major achievement included the foundation of Zunjing Academy,Kwang Ya Academy and Hubei-Hunan Academay of Classical Learning.Chang in his later life established Ziqiang School,Hubei Student Affairs and Sanjiang Normal school.Chang's educational practice was considered as the embodiment of his Chinese style westernization theory.Furthermore,the dissertation summarized the characteristics of Chang's educational theory from three aspects including its flexibility,commonality and limitation.Based on the content,characteristics and reference role of Chang's educational theory mentioned above,two recommendations were proposed in this dissertation.The first one is the practical enlightenment to our current education,puts forward education should correctly face and absorb the western culture and education should attach importance to the cultivation of teachers two morals;the second one is enlightenment to our current ideological and political education,including explore the relation between personality cultivating and the objective of contemporary eological and political education,explore the relation between step by step learning and teacher being a paragon and the principle of contemporary eological and political education,explore the relation between national spirit and national consciousness and the content of contemporary eological and political education.In conclusion,as an ideologist living in the period of transformation of late Qing Dynasty,Chang Chih-tung was open-minded,wise.His educational theory broke the limitation of the time,at meanwhile it also relieved the social contradiction,and protected the government.By studying Chang's educational theory and practice,the author expected to gain a better understanding of educational development in late Qing Dynasty,and then take history as a mirror and look forward into future and provide some references for the modern ideological and political education.