Kandel’s Comparative Education Thought And Its Practical Significance

Isaac Leon Kandel（1881-1965）is a famous American comparative and international educator,who promoted the course of comparative education and was called "the pioneer of comparative education".His thought of comparative education is very rich,and it is of great significance both at home and abroad.Based on Kandel’s life works and predecessors’ research achievements,and taking Kandel’s life and works as the starting point,this paper explores Kandel’s comparative education thought and its practical significance by using the vertical and horizontal comparison methods,quality and quantity.In the aspect of horizontal comparison,it explores the research purpose and methodology of Kandel’s comparative education thought,as well as the relationship between comparative education and its history,philosophy and system.In the aspect of vertical comparison,it focuses on four stages of Kandel’s comparative education thought: germination,development,maturity and perfection,explores its ideological origin and characteristics,and shows its value or limitations.In terms of the comparison of quality and quantity,this paper further analyzes the whole picture of Kandel’s thoughts according to the depth and breadth of the research objects of comparative education and the standards and requirements of the research subjects.By analyzing and summarizing Kandel’s comparative education thought from various angles,ways and layers,this paper tries to explore the practical significance of Kandel’s comparative education thought and its influence and embodiment on the development of comparative education in China.Firstly,this paper traces Kandel’s life,the four forming stages of comparative education thought,the theoretical source of comparative education thought and liberal education by combining Kandel’s personal experience and historical background.Secondly,according to Kandel’s ideas,this paper combs and discusses the research purpose theory,object theory,approach theory,subject theory and methodology of comparative education: Kandel’s research purpose theory of comparative education shows its value from the outside to the inside and from the inside out;The research object of comparative education in Kandel advocates focusing on country study;Kandel’s comparative education thought is mainly studied from four main ways: education history,education philosophy,education system and school.The importance of Kandel’s comparative education research subject theory as an erudite explorer,a diligent practitioner and a step-by-step pioneer is explained in detail.Kandel’s comparative education methodology is the effective application of nationalism,nationality,factors and forces.Finally,from the perspective of education,this paper thinks,summarizes and summarizes the interdisciplinary,transnational and comprehensive characteristics of Kandel’s comparative education thought,and judges Kandel’s comparative education thought from the historical perspective.It also concludes that Kandel’s comparative education thought has four practical meanings: continuous innovation and perfect methodology system,accelerating the enrichment of comparative education research from multiple angles,focusing on extending the international perspective of comparative education,and improving the quality and professional ability of research subjects.Through the development process and research status of comparative education in China,this paper gradually analyzes and discusses the enlightenment of its thoughts in the development of comparative education in China: first,based on the national conditions,stimulate the potential of comparative education and promote the all-round development of disciplines;Second,to eliminate weeds and save turnips,and to seek the path of discipline development with Chinese characteristics;Third,the research subject of comparative education should adhere to the people-oriented principle and strengthen the construction of discipline team.