Between Traditions And Reforms

Generally speaking , the educational achievement that all countries have made is the results of a gradual and advancing development, but the characteristic of such gradual and steady development in English education is particularly outstanding . Making a general survey of the history of English education , on the road to educational modernization , traditions coexists with reforms , and all social conflicts including the conflict in education are solved through the way of conflicts with merges . Since modern times structures of secondary and high education not only inherit the tradition but also do some reforms according to the needs of social developments . The first 50 years of the 19th century is decisive in the history of public schools in England . Public schools had to be reformed for existence . Unsatisfied with the then situations , a reform group which strived to do some changes inside public schools appeared . During this period Thomas Arnold was most famous among those outstanding headmasters in England . Proceeding from educational traditions of England and historical background , this article mainly describes Arnold's educational thought and probes further the forming factors , influences and disputes about his educational thought. This article contains four parts .Part one mainly describes the educational traditions of England and the predicaments which they faced in the 19th century . Educational traditions of England have a long history , include Christianity , gentleman culture , classical humanism and liberalism . The new social changes put new demands forward to those educational traditions at the beginning of the 19th century , but the gradual mode made them get into a difficult position .Part two mainly describs Arnold's educational thought . Facing violent era and changes in education , he regarded Rugby School as a pilot project , set about from the interior of it , combined national conditions and spirit of the times , and explored a personal way for educational reforms . Through measures such as establishing a spiritual fort of school , injecting new spiritt into school curriculum , reaffirmingthe spirit of autonomy and freedom and reinventing gentlemanly personality of the boys , Arnold changed the appearance of Rugby' school life greatly.Part three mainly probes several factors which influence Arnold's educational thought . It analyses especially from three aspects : religiosity,ideals of social reforms , interest in educationand several important opportunities in his life , and self-contradictory personality . Part four mainly describes the influences and disputes about Arnold's educational thought. In order to get a right understanding and a objective appraisement , it analyses especially from two aspects : his contributions to English education and the reasons why he got a world-wide reputation in educational history .