Study On Robert Hutchins' General Education Thought

Robert M Hutchins is one of the most famous 20th century Americanuniversity principals and educators. This paper focuses on of Robert M Hutchinsthought and practice of General education, which clearly reveals the clear views andimplicitly veiled thought, finally make a proper evaluation.This article divides into four parts, the foreword, the formation of generaleducation thought, the general education thought and the practice, the appraisal and theconclusion four major parts. Foreword including the following major aspects, issues, theresearch present situation, the purpose of the study, innovation and concepts. Generaleducation is not only a university ideas, but also a personnel training mode. Its goal is"man is perfect", to have a long-term vision, accommodation knowledge, the liberalspirit and beautiful feelings, not just a narrow field of professional expertise-type talent.The second part discusses his thinking on the formation of general education. Hutchinstimes the backgroundand his educational experience has an important impact on hisideas and practice of general education. Hutchins believes that human nature is rational,people are rational, moral and spiritual existence; He also firmly believe that only as aguide to metaphysics, then be able to find higher education a rational and practical inthe order, because metaphysics is to explore the causes of things, it is the highest levelof science, the first science, is the first and universal, it explored the nature of existenceand the existence of their own attributes. He also pointed out that the United States hasexisted for many unhealthy tendencies, such as professionalism, isolationism,Anti-Intellectualism, etc. likely bring harm to higher education and the democraticcountries. Partâ…¢focuses on Hutchins' general education thinking and practice. Hebelieved education means teaching, the teaching means knowledge, knowledge is truth,truth in any place is the same. Therefore, education should be in any place is the same.Therefore, education is to help students develop their thinking and independentjudgment, and as a responsible citizen participation in the workforce. Education shouldalso explore our common humanity, the common ground in all these times and placesare the same. To achieve such an objective, the best way is famous courses, becausemasterpiece can help students learn to think one of the most important question anddevelop the intellectual capacity of their own; Meanwhile masterpiece is of high value cultivate the spirit, in order to meet the masterpiece study, resort to the use of ateacher-student seminar in which "great conversation", he has also made efforts to bringall this into practice, most of the performance about his general education ideas andpractice is the reform in the university of Chicago and St. John's college of liberal. Partâ…£focused on Hutchins thinking and practice of evaluation. Focus on rational analysisand objective appraisal to avoid a ruling on one end and lost fair, the main entry pointsfrom six start its evaluation. Although his general education thinking has a lot ofglittering, but there are also some shortcomings. For example, his metaphysicalunderstanding makes it difficult to form a workable definition, Overemphasizes therationality to be also easy to cause the unbalanced final, although masterpiece couldplay a great role for the development of the individual, But it is difficulty for students toform the knowledge system if it merely depends upon the masterpiece study. If onlythese different historical periods and different areas of general education as a wholenovel materials from the logical structure of materials and students on the knowledgestructure, it is very difficult to meet real teaching law and achieve the desired results.