In The Republic Of China Study On The Value Of Educational Practice Of The Chieftain Ling Guangdian

Ling Guangdian whose Yi name is Nie Mu Niu Niu, commonly known as "Si Bu Zi Mo" or "Mu Nie Zi Mo", was the last chieftain of Yi ethnic group and the most influential education practitioner and Social innovator in the first half of twentieth Century in Liangshan region. He was not as famous as other four chieftains who are of high reputation in Liangshan region, but his influence far exceeded them, which should be attributed to his achievement in national education.His national education related to culture, medicine, agriculture, arts, military and occupation etc.After graduation from the Whampoa military academy, he witnessed those social phenomenon in Yi area such as "fool", "poor", "weak", "private". "Fool" referred to the stern hierarchical system of the old society led to that the vast majority of Yi people were illiterate; "poor" referred to the life of Yi people was in low level; "weak" referred to the Yi people believed witchcraft instead of medicine so that health level was low; "private" referred to the Yi people often became "enemy" with each other and made the self serving without the consciousness of cooperation.Being aware of the four social problems above were due to the low cultural level of Yi people,so,Ling believed that the first thing of reform of the Yi area was to establish schools for the cultural education of Yi people.The spring of 1937, he founded a school--the Sibubian private elementary school,which was the first modern school in liangshan area, run by the Yi people, cultivating a large number of national talents for Liangshan area and promoting the process of democratic reform, boosting the growth of economy, culture and other aspects of Liangshan.His social reforms of Yi District achieved good results. The reforms included the establishment of the Sibu hospital, cultivating medical personnel, providing free treatment for Yi people; ditching bad habits of Yi people; development of the science,technology, agriculture and forestry. Which Vigorously promoted the reform of Yi District in Liangshan and presented a brand-new Yi society.At the same time, he and other ethnic elites petition the government for equal national rights, which not only made great contribution to the social development and stability of the Yi area, but also maintained the unity of the nation. It was also anindispensable part of the process of the modern Chinese national building. In fact, the reform of Ling Guangdian was a great cause that would benefit both current and future generation.