I watched Russell on Education during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday (translated by Yang Hanlin, People's Education Publishing House, 2009). The author Bertrand Russell (1872- 1970) is a world-renowned British philosopher, mathematician and logician. This book was published by 1926 in Britain and America. The title of the British edition is "On Education: Especially Early Education", and the title of the American edition is "Education and a Better Life".
In this book, the author has made full research and deep thinking on the purpose of education, moral education, sex education, nursing schools, day schools, boarding schools, courses, universities, intellectual education and so on.
Summarize the content of this book in one paragraph: education is the key to open a new world, and we should devote ourselves to cultivating the ability of independent judgment. Early education can largely determine a person's character. Before the age of 6, children should complete good moral education, be energetic, brave, sensitive and smart. After the age of 6, he mainly received intellectual education, cultivated intellectual virtues such as curiosity, modesty, difficulty in seeking knowledge, faith, patience, diligence, concentration and accuracy, cultivated scientific spirit and critical thinking habits, and had the consciousness of intellectual adventure.
The author believes that in a good social system, character and knowledge education should be open to all, in fact, everyone can enjoy it. "At least everyone who has the ability to benefit from education can receive education." Early education is particularly important because "children are neither' good' nor' evil'. They are born with only reflex characteristics and several instincts, so they develop healthy or morbid habits under the influence of the surrounding environment. " Therefore, "the job of early education is to train instinct to produce harmonious character." This character is good at building and is not destructive; Full of love, not indifference and gloom; Besides, it is brave, frank and clever. "The author believes that this kind of early education is precisely the least valued in our education, and it is not bitter!
The author attaches great importance to the power of education. "If nurseries are popularized, the deep-rooted differences in education can be eliminated within one generation. Now it is this difference that sets classes against each other, so that all people can enjoy the physical and mental development that only the luckiest people can get at present, and the terrible burden of disease, ignorance and cruelty that is so difficult to make progress now can be eliminated. " "A generation of brave and fearless women can change the world by bringing a generation of brave and fearless children into this world. These children are not only not distorted into unnatural forms, but also straightforward, frank, generous, fraternity and chic. Their enthusiasm will sweep away the cruelty and pain we endure because of laziness, cowardice, indifference and ignorance. " "Free young people from the nature of fear, prohibition, rebellion or oppression." Create a golden age of "health, freedom, happiness, kindness and wisdom".
In moral education, the author thinks that habit is very important. "Good habits can make most virtues form almost automatically." "The secret of modern moral education is to produce effect through good habits." "By cultivating correct habits and skills, we can make children's instinct arouse the actions they need." In my opinion, this is really surprising, showing the destructive power of bad habits.
In the author's view, it is necessary to protect children's curiosity and thirst for knowledge, so that "every normal child has it" and "natural desire for learning should be the driving force of education". "Babies are so curious that parents just need to give them opportunities." The author points out that "animals, machines, thunderstorms and all kinds of manual labor can arouse children's curiosity, and their curiosity will make the smartest adults feel ashamed." "If" curiosity dies, so does active intelligence. " Therefore, "it is impossible to stifle interest in knowledge". Our education should serve as a warning.
The author strongly points out that "love is the essence of good character." "Correct love should be the natural result of treating growing children correctly, not something that is deliberately pursued throughout all stages." Unfortunately, our educators often destroy children in the name of love.
The author emphasizes that "when children reach the age of 6, moral education should be nearly completed;" In other words, because of the good habits that have been formed and the lofty wishes that have been aroused, boys and girls should automatically develop other virtues needed in the future. " "The other virtues needed should be the natural result of pure intellectual training." "Only when the early moral training is neglected or improperly implemented, a lot of moral education is needed in later life. "In reality, there are countless such examples. The lack of early moral education has caused many problems for children and brought extra pressure to teachers.
The author points out that because "parents have the problem of abusing power." Children should not be "excessively influenced by their parents" and "excessively bound by their elders". "Endless nagging, accusations, no noisy rules, and endless teaching of manners and manners make childhood bleak." However, China's parents often make such mistakes.
In education, the author thinks that utilitarianism and humanism should be balanced, in other words, we should pursue material interests and spiritual pleasure at the same time. As far as the latter is concerned, our education is far from even beginning, and there is still a long way to go.
The author emphasizes that partners are very important in the process of children's growth, because "kind parents create an environment that is too laissez-faire, while parents who lack affection create an environment that suppresses instinct." Only peers can provide opportunities for instinct to fully develop in an atmosphere of free competition and equal cooperation. Self-respect without being overbearing, caution without groveling and so on. Get the best in interaction with peers. "The author also emphasizes that talented people don't have to go to school, otherwise they will disappear.
The author believes that we should "have a knowledge of adventure consciousness" in our study. Regrettably, our education often makes people content to accept ready-made views, but they dare not think about it, let alone question it. In fact, as long as you think deeply, your mind will be completely new.
The author brilliantly pointed out that "outdoor education should be carried out continuously in all academic years." This "includes the following knowledge: agricultural process, animals and plants, gardening, rural observation habits, etc." Otherwise, the attitude of "city people" towards life will generally become "trivial, shallow and frivolous". In my opinion, contact with nature is an important part of education, but it has become a luxury in cities, which is probably a great benefit left to the countryside.
The author also asks us to treat science rationally. "The power that science gives us to shape the minds of young people is still a terrible power that can be abused; If it falls into the wrong hands, it may produce a more ruthless and cruel world than the disorderly world of nature. Under the guise of teaching religion, patriotism, courage or materialism, proletariat and revolutionary enthusiasm, children are educated to be extreme, aggressive and cruel. Education must be driven by love and aim at liberating love from children. Otherwise, with the progress of science and technology, the harm of education to mankind will intensify. " This passage deserves every educator's reflection.
After reading this book, the author's greatest feeling is that ambitious people have surprisingly similar understanding of education. As the saying goes, great minds think alike. Although the author's views are similar to those of many sages, reading this book is still very enjoyable.
Note: The pictures in this article are provided by the author.
o？ y？ p？ Bachelor of health education