The Literacy Campaign In The Republic Of China (1928-1937)

As the important enterprise of social education,the modren literacy campaign is the consequence of the China's modern social development.After decades of its development,the literacy campaign has underwent four periods,which are infancy,the initial development,actively promotion,and the decline stage.Throughout the whole development of the modern literacy campaigns,it is not difficult to find that the government's guidance and participation,the promotion of intellectuals,and the current changes are important factors which impacted its development.Therefore,the context is based on the historical background of the literacy movement.The author studies its practice during the years 1928-1937,in order to analyze its success or failure,and provide some lessions to today's literacy campaign.In the Chinese Republican period,China faces a serious illiteracy problem,and the existence of a large number of illiterates,hindered the country's political,economic, cultural development.In order to realize the political tutelage and salvage the country, Nanjing government promoted large-scale literacy campaigns.Also,the beginning of the literacy campaign is influenced by the Salvation education ideas and education groups'promotion at that time.The literacy campaign can be divided into two parts,which are propaganda and implementation.The propaganda is mainly done by the Campaign Committees established in localities.It combined the school-based types of education and the community-based types of education.The formers are mainly through public schools to educate,the latter ones are chiefly through public education museums,public newspaper-reading departments,public literacy departments,etc.In the efforts of the national government,the literacy campaign actived some achievements from 1928-1937.Although the literacy campaign achieved some effort,the achievement is limited, and not receieved the expected object of the national government.We can analyze the reasons from these aspects:the national government,public schools,public education halls and the commons,etc.However,looking back its development,we are still able to gain some valuable experience and lessons,and can get many inspirations for our literacy education today.