Zhang Zhidong And Wuhan Education Modernization

Zhang Zhidong was not only a famous Chinese entrepreneur, a top Chinese educator, but also the pioneer of modern education in Wuhan. He had set up many kinds of new-style schools, and contributed much to Chinese and Wuhan education in modern times in the structure, institution and idea of education. It is instructional for the current educational reform to generalize Zhang Zhidong's educational innovation.In educational structure, Zhang Zhidong tried his best to set up new-style schools to develop preschool education, primary education, secondary education, higher education, pedagogical education, industrial education, military education, police and legislative as well as overseas education, Which pushed forward modern educational system in Wuhan.In Educational administration, Zhang Zhidong's innovation in educational ideas, organization, finance, content, teaching staff and methods explored a new train of thought for modern education in Wuhan and modern education reform .In educational institutions, Zhang Zhidong provided an institutional insurance for the realization of "Foreign ideas may be borrowed by China" idea and the practice of new-style education, which became the necessity for Wuhan to become national developed in education in the early 20th century.In educational ideas, Zhang Zhidong didn't fawn on the western, nor tenaciously defended Chinese education, but combined Chinese with western education, which helped to develop Wuhan, even Chinese traditional education into modern education.The contribution Zhang Zhidong made to the modernization of education in China is great. But, because of certain limitation in history, there are many defects, which shows his intention to serve the autocratic system. Even though, his status in the history of Wuhan and Chinese education cannot be denied.