A History Investigation On Some Issues Of Women’s Education In Modern Tianjin(1902-1920s)

Abstract:As an important part in the modern education history in China, Women s Education in modern Tianjin occupied the dominant position in northern China, the advocacy and establishment of Women’s Education benefited from a lot of factors, like the influence of social tendency after Tianjin became a Treaty Port in1860, the generous supports of the enlightened gentry, the participation of important government officials and the help of others social elites. Of course, Funds became the biggest difficulty in the process of establishment and development. In this respect, we can say that the development of the Women’s Education is also a process of funds raising. The funds came in many sources, such as tuition revenue, governmental funding, social especially the gentry donations. Likewise, the expenditure was numerous and complicated. The adequacy of funds played a crucial role for the operation of the Women’s Education.The Women’s Education in Tianjin was unprecedented in northern China. From the development history of the Women’s Education, we can see that it made its way forward with fumble and tumble. However, Women’s Education was established and developed with high criterion. The selection and recruiting of student, the building of teacher’s team, the operation of administration and organization, the curricula arrangement etc. all of which achieved great results. It greatly promoted the modernization progress of Chinese education. Many of the graduates from Women’s school became outstanding figures in all social sectors. And this generated a positive and wide spreading influence on society.The establishment and popularity of Women’s Education was the result of assistance from all social sectors. Meanwhile, the teachers and students in women’s school, as a member of the society, they paid back the society in return as well. With a high sense of social responsibility, they participated in social relief and established social organizations. Some teachers and students with high political enthusiasm even joined the Revolution of1911, May4th Movement and other political campaigns. As they broke the traditional restriction on women, they are also reconstructing a new positive relationship with the society. This greatly enhanced the development of feminism movement in northern China, especially in Tianjin.But due to the restriction of economic development level and the deep rooted traditional conservative thoughts, it inevitably generated many disadvantages and problems, such as the shortage of funds, unbalanced development in different schools etc. The Women’s Education in Tianjin is an miniature of the Modern Chinese Education history, its development deficiencies need our further thought.