The Analysis On The Development And Characteristics Of Contemporary Women School Education (1840-1919)

Right from ancient times, China has been famous for the tradition of respecting teachers and paying high attention to education. The building and development of education had occupied leading positions in a global sense. However, for women school education, the first step was only set from the modern time in China.In this paper, the research objective would be focused on women school education from the First Opium War till the May 4th movement. The analysis is to examine the twisted process of women schooling's development in modern time, the characteristics of women school education, and the social implications. Women schooling has demonstrated social advancement in China in the following aspects: 1) from the start-up of women schooling till its development and expansion in modern time; 2) from the emergence of girls school to coeducation; 3) from the purpose of women education being merely parenting and housework, to the mindset transition that men and women should receive equal education. But due to the limitations of bourgeois in the time of old democratic revolution, women school education still reflected the characteristic of semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. The paper would consist of three major parts: Foreword, Main Content and Conclusion.The Foreword would mainly introduce the project objective, significance, research status and research methodologies.There are four parts in the Main Content.The first chapter "The Causes for the Rise and Development of Modern Women Schooling"deploys the analysis by means of examples, discussing a number of reasons for the rise of the modern Chinese women's schooling. First, after the First Opium War, western colonialists culturally invaded China by running church schools for the purpose of missionary work. During this period, some female missionaries founded the first school for girls in modern China. Second, in the period of Constitutional Reform and Modernization, the bourgeois reformists realized that strengthening the nation's power must be started from a focus on women's education. As such they called for women and men to receive coeducation. From then onwards, the bourgeois intellectuals and enlightened gentry began to set up schools for girls. This is the start of Chinese people themselves running the women schools. Third, in early 1900s, the Qing government exerted a push factor towards the founding and development of women schools by implementing"New Politics"and adjusting the educational system, in order to save their feudal ruling. Fourth, a number of Chinese women who received the advanced school education themselves, under the influence of feminism, actively promoted women schooling.The second chapter"The Development Process of Women School Education in Modern China"analyzed the development status of women school education at different times, from a historical development angle. People's perception towards church schools'education for women had changed from resistance to acceptance. The number of female students increased, whilst the schools'scale expanded. The founding of church schools'education for women ended the history of no education for traditional Chinese women. After the founding of first women school"Jing Zheng Girl School"by Chinese on their own, there had been a surge in founding girl schools in the 1900s by local people in China. Year 1907 saw Qing government included girl school into formal education system. In the early years of Republic of China, the education system regulated coeducation at elementary schools, and women could receive high school education. After the May 4th movement, women education was highly regarded by the society. Coeducation became possible in tertiary education. The tradition of unequal education for men and women had eventually changed, after some 2000 years.The third chapter"The Evolution of Women Education's Concept in Modern China"would talk about the several transition phases that women education's concept experienced. In the period of Constitutional Reform and Modernization, the bourgeois reformists promoted the concept of women education as"qualified mother and capable wife". To bring women to receive school education is a big step forward from the old concept of"being talentless is women's virtue". However, such education is still treating women at the subordinate level as attachment of men. The concept of"Female Citizen Education"is different from the education concept of qualified mother or capable wife. It is neither merely education for women. It is an education for women with the focus in citizen's duty. After the launch of"New Culture Movement", the concept of"Equality in education for both men and women"emerged. To elaborate, every male and female shoulders the same responsibility in their country and society; both males and females have the same dignity; women should receive equal education as men.The fourth chapter"The Characteristics of Women School Education in Modern China"focuses on the analysis of the characteristics in politics and difficulties. First, girl school was a new thing, thus its founding received resistance from old feudal power. The Qing government occasionally suppressed and shunned domestic women schooling together with old feudal powers. Second, the founders'lack of experience in education slowed down the development of women schooling in the sense of funding. In addition, in the period of constitutional reform and modernization, the bourgeois implanted their political objectives into women schooling, in order to achieve their aim of strengthening the nation. The bourgeois reformists combined school education with the career of revolution, and groomed lots of female revolutionists. Third, the management of girls school normally implemented stringent regulations, thus the activities of female students at school were restricted. After receiving school education, the skills and abilities of the females are highly enhanced. They also became financially independent, stepped out from family circles and started to participate in social activities. This could be considered as an important implication caused by women school education.The conclusion would summarize the analysis on women schooling education in modern China, in hope to inspire women education and studies in contemporary time.