A Study On Parkhurst’s Chinese Journey In 1920s

The subject of the study is Parkhust’s visiting China and educational activities during her stay in 1920 s.The Dalton Plan was initiated as the times required in the process of Progressive Education Movement in late 1910 s.The essence of the plan was individualized of instruction through student contracts.The student assumed responsibility for carrying out each contracted assignment and worked individually at his/ her own space to complete it,with assistance and needed from the teacher and other students.In 1921,when New Culture Movement reformed ideological and cultural circles and New Education Movement was ongoing in China,the Dalton Plan was introduced to China for reforming the traditional Class-based System and cultivating qualified students.In 1923,just two years after the introduction,the Dalton Plan was advocated by many intellectuals and implemented in lots of schools.However,the situation changed soon,the heyday became to a constant recession from late 1923 to 1924.In 1920 s,Chinese intellectuals interacted with Western educationalists frequently.Besides returned students and educational investigators’ struggling for learning new educational theories and practices,Chinese educationalists often invited Western educationalists,such as John Dewey,Paul Monroe,to visit China.In the context,Helen Parkhurst was invited to visit China for lecturing Dalton principles and guiding the Dalton implementations.On 14 July 1925,Parkhurst arrived Shanghai.She then began her 43-day journey in Beijing,Nanjing,Shanghai,Taiyuan,Hankou,Hangzhou etc.,and she gave lectures,attended Dalton seminars and participated in other educational activities in each city.Parkhurst’s journey,which was a big event in the history of Sino-America communications,has made great contributions to the development of the Dalton education and modernization of education for China.The study will elaborate Parkhurst’s Chinese journey in 1920 s and analyze dynamics,impacts etc.comprehensively.The study is conducted by combining the destiny of the Dalton Plan and Parkhurst’s visiting China based on adequate primary and secondary sources both in Chinese and English,and analyzing the background and her motivation,elaborating her various educational activities,investigating the importance of her visiting and the Dalton implementations in New Education Movement.Furthermore,the study also investigates the impacts on education and society in modern China exerted by Parkhurst and evaluates the significance of her visiting and the Dalton Plan in China.The thesis is divided into six parts,including introduction,text(Chapter 1-4)and epilogue.The introduction consists of significance,definition,literature review,availability,methodology,key points and difficulties.Chapter 1 focuses on the motivation and background of Parkhurst visiting China.Chapter 2 focuses on the process of Chinese intellectuals inviting Parkhurst and the important role played by Chinese National Association for the Advancement of Education and Shu Xincheng in Parkhurst’s stay in China.Chapter 3 focuses on Parkhurst’s educational activities.Chapter 4 focuses on the reaction of education sector to Parkhurst’s visiting and the influence on China.The epilogue focuses on evaluating the Dalton Plan and Parkhurst’s visiting in China.