The Analytical Study On Yen Fu's Thought Of Science Education

Yen Fu was a man who pioneered the science education in modern China. Under the background of the serious national crisis and the fierce collision between Chinese and Western cultures, Yen Fu, with wealthy knowledge of Chinese and modern Western cultural accomplishments, explored actively the road of science education and searched for the ways of saving China and enriching the nation and people.Yen Fu not only affirmed science education's utility value on promoting the production development, but also revealed its more profound value on enlightening people's thinking. He introduced the entire content of modern science into the educational fields. He put emphasis not only on popularizing natural science knowledge and Social science knowledge, but also on training the scientific methods and cultivating spirit of science. Yen Fu constructed the system of science education curriculum, designed the blueprint of modern education system, and proposed a series of teaching methods adapted to science education. In addition, he disseminated the thought of science education by means of translating western renowned works, running newspapers, opening schools and setting up institutes.Yen Fu's thought of science education broke through the "Chinese principle and western utility" framework which Westernization education followed as guiding ideology. As a result, science education no longer remained in the apparatus level but expanded to the ideology and culture level. His thought has positive impacts on revising Chinese traditional education, developing national people's quality and stimulating the social reform of politics and economy. Although limited to the conditions of times, his thought still had some imperfection, the science education development in china today is still greatly enlightened by the reasonable part of his thought.