The Study On LiXieFei’s Historical Education Thought

Li Xiefei(1906-1983),born in Jiashan(current Mingguang City),Anhui,was a historian of Chinese modern times and a former professor of History and Geography department of Zhejiang University.He was learned and had a great achievement,and he was not only engaged in the fields of the theory of historiography,modern history of China,local chronicles compilation,Library Science and so on,but also had studied the History Education.In the field of History Education,he had written a book named "teaching method of history" and many papers.The formation of Li Xiefei’s historical education thought was related to a variety of factors.In addition to big environment of the times and his personal educational practice,Liang Qichao’s "new historiography"thought,George Macaulay Trevelyan’s historical education thought,Sun Zhongshan’s historical view of the people’s livelihood and Jiang Jieshi’s educational and philosophical thoughts had all in a certain extent influenced Li Xiefei’s historical education thought.Among which,Liang Qichao’s "new historiography" thought influenced him most.Li Xiefei’s historical education thought involves many aspects,such as the instructional objectives,compilation and application of textbooks,teacher’s cultivation,etc.;specifically,it contains six parts:first,the mission and goal of history teaching.Li Xiefei believed that,the mission of History teaching was to make students and citizens clearly understand the past and present of the country and be full of confidence in country’s future,and the goal of History teaching is to cultivate students’ historical concept and patriotism.Second,the mission and cultivation of History teachers.Li Xiefei put forward that,History teachers shouldered the great mission of educating the young people of the country and nation’s next generation and cultivating the quality of future nationals,and in order to accomplish this mission,the History teachers should have cultivation in the six aspects of faith,character,knowledge,spirit,teaching and demeanor.Third,history textbooks,teaching materials and the main points of teaching.Li Xiefei elaborated the status and function of history textbooks,main points of codification and use,collection and application of teaching materials,and points for attention in teaching.Fourth,history teaching equipment.Li Xiefei discussed the role of teaching equipment in History teaching,and he divided the History teaching equipment into four categories,i.e.historical charts,model specimens,photograph and pictures,and slide and films.Fifth,the homework and exams of the History subject.Li Xiefei thought that homework had two important functions,and pointed out that seven kinds of homework could be arranged in middle school:colloquium,making chart,making the reading notes,visit and travel,lecture,holding an exhibition and reading extracurricular readings.Meanwhile,Li Xiefei discussed the exam of History subject from three aspects of the function,the form,and examination questions’ nature and difficulty degree.Sixth,the relationship between History and other disciplines.Li Xiefei respectively expatiated the relationship between History and the disciplines of Geography,Chinese,foreign language and Citizens.Li Xiefei’s historical educational thought has a very significant merit,that is,it emphasizes that history teaching should cultivate students’patriotism,focus on stimulating students’ interest in History learning,pay attention to the cultivation of history teachers and focus on intuitional instruction.At the same time,there are obvious shortcomings.Having strong political color,advocating the historical view of the people’s livelihood of Three Principles of the People,and lacking theoretical basis of Pedagogy are all the defects of Li Xiefei’s historical educational thought.By studying Li Xiefei’s historical educational thought,the following inspirations can be drawn:in the History teaching of middle school,we should strengthen the construction of History teachers and improve their cultivation,adhere to the patriotism education to cultivate students’ patriotism,pay more attention to students’ interest in learning History.