A Study On The Educational Improvement Activities Of Nanjing Higher Normal School (1915-1923)

The transformation of higher education in the Republic of China is an essential part of the modernization process of China’s higher education.In order to realize the modern university system,China’s higher education made diverse explorations: remained Japanese-style school system established in the late Qing dynasty,followed the idea of German classical universities,set up comprehensive university system under the influence of America,and transplanted France’s university district system.These diversified practices created renewal historical scene in the Republic of China,and finally established the basic system and value of modern higher education in China.Among state universities,Nanjing Higher Normal School was the one most affected by the American universities’ system.Under the leadership of students once studied in America like Kuo Ping-wen,Liu Bo-ming and Tao Xing-zhi,Nanjing Higher Normal School carried out educational improvement activities including school management,professional teaching and construction of teaching staff,and finally upgraded from traditional normal school to modern comprehensive university.Although the education theory of Pragmatism and the system of American universities had profound impact on Nanjing Higher Normal School,the upgrade still had its inherent rationality and progressiveness,which inspired the reform of higher education in Jiangsu Province and even the whole country.Taking Nanjing Higher Normal School as the research case,this paper outlines the main improvement activities and achievements in the course of development;focuses on the improvement activities including school management,professional teaching and construction of teaching staff;analyzes the relationship between Nanjing Higher Normal School and the development trend of modern higher education;reveals the historical significance of Nanjing Higher Normal School.This paper is divided into five chapters.The main points of each chapter are summarized as following:The first chapter mainly introduces the background and stage division of the improvement of Nanjing Higher Normal School.The establishment and improvement of Nanjing Higher Normal School should be understood under a special historical situation affected by domestic,local and international factors.The improvement course can be divided into three stages: the preparatory stage,the deepening stage and the co-existence with Southeast National University stage.The second chapter describes the improvement measures involving administrative management and student management.It specifically included perfecting organizational structure,introducing professor’s management under the president’s responsibility,brewing school board system and carrying out student self-government.The third chapter analyzes the professional teaching practices including teaching methods,curriculum setting system,scientific training and academic exchanges.By emphasizing student center and rational spirit to improve teaching methods,curriculum setting system and training methods,and promoting academic exchange activities between universities and society,domestic and international,Nanjing Higher Normal School gradually upgraded to modern university.The fourth chapter focuses on the construction of teaching staff.By introducing the selection criteria that giving top priorities to academic achievements and inclusiveness,and improving the training system that ensuring teachers’ professional treatment,Nanjing Higher Normal School equipped with high-qualified teaching staff to support the education and scientific research work.The fifth chapter evaluates the educational improvement course of Nanjing Higher Normal School;summarizes the historical characteristics of these improvement activities and its influences on China’s higher education and the whole education cause;reviews the limitations in the process to reconsider these experience and lessons.