What Is Liberal Education?

General education is a kind of education. The goal of this education is to provide educated people with the knowledge and values that pass between different groups in a modern and pluralistic society ^[1] .

General education

In the mid-1980s, the Chinese term "general education" was translated by Taiwanese scholars based on the translation of general education and liberal education. The translation draws on Chinese traditional culture's interpretations of "tong" and "knowledge". Before that, some people translated general education as "general education", "general education", "general education", and liberal education as "

Liberal education itself originated in the 19th century. At that time, many European and American scholars felt that the academic branches of modern universities were too specialized and their knowledge was severely fragmented. Therefore, general education was created in order to train students to think independently and to understand I have some knowledge of the disciplines, so that I can integrate different knowledge, and the ultimate goal is to cultivate a complete and complete person. Since the 20th century, general education has become a compulsory subject in European and American universities.

General education and specialized education are just different choices of education models, but in essence, they are caused by different understandings of "education".

General education focuses on "education" rather than "teaching", because general education does not have a rigid division of professions, and it offers a variety of choices. And the students have obtained free and natural growth through diversified choices. It can be said that general education is a humanistic education that goes beyond utilitarianism and practicality. The reason why they want to take the example of "university questioner, big thinker" is because they have the valuable qualities of independent personality and independent thinking, and this is the ultimate pursuit of general education. Because education is not a production line in the workshop, it produces the same model and the same thinking. It is to develop and dig out the potential and spirit of different individuals. Because general education is to "bred" real "people" rather than "products."

First, it is expounded from the perspective of the nature of general education. General education is a component of higher education; general education is "non-professional, non-professional education"; general education is the education of all college students; general education is a university idea, that is, the idea of running a university ; General education is synonymous with liberal education. The essence of general education is the inheritance of freedom and the humanistic tradition.

Second, from the perspective of the purpose of general education, such as: "general education refers to non-professional and non-professional education, the purpose is to cultivate sound individuals and healthy citizens in a free society"; The philosophy of the university should be high-level civilization education and comprehensive human nature education to bring up talented people who have great vision, inclusiveness, liberal spirit and beautiful emotions; "general education aims to instill students' attitudes and understanding about good citizens", etc. Wait. This type of definition emphasizes that general education is an education that focuses on the harmonious development of human life, morality, emotion, and reason.

Third, it discusses from the perspective of the content of general education. For example: "giving young people between the ages of 20 and 25 an accurate and general knowledge of all subjects of human interest"; "general education is a type of education that familiarizes students with facts in the main areas of knowledge ". This type of definition holds that general education is the education of knowledge and skills in all areas of human life. It is the education of non-professional, non-professional, non-utilitarian, and knowledge not directly prepared for the profession. , Which covers a wide range and comprehensive.

The "Education Dictionary" edited by Gu Mingyuan, president of the Chinese Education Society, states that "general education" is:

1. An educational thought on the purpose and content of education in modern times and the education based on it. At the higher education level, it refers to the education that college students should receive about common content. It usually belongs to several subject areas and provides a wide range of education, which is different from specialized education. In 1829, Packard of the United States defended the public course part of the university curriculum (then including classical Chinese, literature and science courses), thinking that as a prerequisite for professional study, students must study these public courses in order to get what they deserve Co-cultivation, and this part of education is called general education. This concept has changed since then. In 1945, Harvard University published a report on "General Education in a Free Society" (that is, the "Red Book" of Harvard), which stated that education can be divided into two parts: general education and professional education. The former, as part of university education, focuses on students' life needs as a responsible person and citizen, while the latter gives students some vocational ability training. There are differences between the two, but they are not opposed and separated. The general education courses recommended in the report include: literary masterpieces, western thought and institutions, introduction to physical science or biological science, and other courses belonging to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Post-Harvard University has put specific requirements for undergraduates to study such courses (called "core courses"). The requirements in 1992 were: to take several courses in six fields: foreign culture, history, literature and art, moral culture, natural science, and social analysis. Students are also required to pass the self-study exam or take certain courses to meet the prescribed "quantitative reasoning requirements" standard. There are about three ways for other colleges and universities in the United States to implement general education: (1) Same as Harvard University, offering a wide range of courses in several areas that all students must study, and stipulating the total the amount. (2) Compulsory distribution. Students must take at least a certain number of courses or credits in different prescribed subject areas (generally humanities, social sciences, natural sciences). (3) Freely optional. The school does not make specific provisions on the courses required for general education, and consists of students choosing relevant courses on their own. The idea of general education has been widely accepted, and this education has been implemented in many countries.

2. See "Free Education".

1. Liberal education is an international issue generally accepted by universities around the world, and should therefore be given full attention by the Chinese education community. If there is no international recognition of general education, the right to speak and international consensus will be lost to a considerable extent, and some prerequisites for international communication will be lost. In this regard, the best way is to integrate general education into the basic concepts of Chinese higher education, so as to enrich and develop our educational ideas and methods.

2. General education is actually the most effective way to achieve quality education. In general education, implement the "personalized quality education that integrates erudition and specialization", and decompose general education into five majors: philosophy and social science literacy, humanities literacy, natural science and technology literacy, aesthetic art literacy, and practical ability Module. Encourage students to freely choose courses based on their actual interdisciplinary and cross-professional, fully develop their personality and knowledgeable knowledge; encourage students to choose courses independently from difficulties, strict, and their own actual situation, so as to enhance students' initiative to improve their overall quality.

3. General education is also a way to realize the course of "university spirit". Most modern universities implement and practice the university spirit of "democracy, science, truth, justice, freedom, and tolerance". This spirit requires not only the guarantee of the university system to achieve it, but also the curriculum system to achieve it. The general education curriculum system seeks to train students to admire science and democracy, pursue truth and justice, respect others who are good at communicating and can "look up at the stars".

4. General education is a practical process of the modernization of the concept of education in China. Whether it is education methods such as liberal arts education, general education, free education, and capacity development training related to general education abroad; or quality education in China that has been implemented for many years and comprehensive development education of "morality, intelligence, physical education, beauty, and labor"; and Education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism; as well as the education of talents with both expertise and ethics; or the promotion of traditional cultural education can be included in the scope of general education. This tolerance reflects that China's general education has both Chinese characteristics and comprehensive reform and opening up to the world. To a certain extent, the concept of general education can integrate diversified modern education concepts and models, and give general education the connotation of traditional Chinese culture, which not only reflects the times, but also maintains the nationality. It combines modern science and technology with traditional Chinese culture. Combining cultural classics and books, unifying modern information civilization with Chinese outstanding cultural history.

5. General education is to prevent students

The nature of general education determines the rationality of its existence. However, the current education system's neglect of general education and the series of social problems that it causes have increasingly shown the necessity of general education. The necessity of general education in higher education is mainly manifested in the following aspects: ^[2]

General education, first of all, refers to an educational concept, an educational concept for all, a university running concept, and people from all sides to study together.

The "general knowledge" needed for general education needs to be discussed, just as Tsinghua University

In the mid-1980s, Taiwan scholars were able to translate.

general education

Translated

General education

General education

General education

Etymological meaning of Latin (stadium generale)

Learn from all parties.

general

Not "ordinary", "ordinary", "ordinary", but "for all", for everyone.

Oxford English Dictionary "general" explained

Explanation: non-specialized, general, universal; universal, comprehensive, and holistic.

Reveal the characteristics of general education.

The universality and comprehensiveness that have an impact on the whole.

The universality and generality corresponding to specialized education.

1. Educational philosophy for all.

2. University running philosophy.

General Education Talent Training

Educational Philosophy and Goals General Education (USA)

Prioritize personal development

2. Individualism and Democracy

3. Attach importance to the coordinated development and ability development of people, and cultivate sound people

4. Designed to lay the foundation for professional life

Professional education (former Soviet Union)

1. Give priority to social development, collectivism and nationalism

2. Attaching importance to human intellectual development and imparting knowledge, training tool people who can only work

3. Designed to train highly skilled experts

Education Content and Teaching Methods and Methods General Education (USA)

1. Both humanities and social sciences and natural sciences are emphasized, focusing on the combination of science and technology, and the penetration of arts and sciences

2. Focus on basic education, broad knowledge, and emphasis on adaptability

3. Student Center, Social Center

4. Emphasize scientific research and learn through research and practice

Professional education (former Soviet Union)

1. Special emphasis on natural sciences

2. Focusing on specialized education, narrow specialty and emphasizing applicability

Classroom center

4. Focus on teaching and learning through classroom teaching

General education such as training system (USA)

1. Implement credit system, a more free and flexible learning system

2. Emphasize the comprehensive and diverse management system of comprehensive universities and schools

Professional education (former Soviet Union)

1. Implement the school year system and strictly unified teaching management

2. Specialized colleges, headed by various industrial departments

General Education Model in China

1940-1952

General integration

2. Revolutionary people + technical experts

1952-1978

Professional education model

2. Liberal education is "lost"

1978-1995

Professional education

2. General Education in Pregnancy

1995-

1. Exploration from Cultural Quality Education to General Education

2. Cultural quality education is aimed at the phenomenon of college students' "knowledge, no culture" caused by the split of exam-oriented education, liberal arts and science, emphasis on light literature, humanities education and natural science education.

Humanistic quality education.

1. Strengthen education in humanities and social sciences such as literature, history, philosophy and art

2. Liberal art students strengthen education in natural sciences.

General education

Good school spirit, good campus culture, environment, technology, cultural festival, brand lectures, reading activities

Capital theory

Ideal country

3. Social contract theory

4. The Bible

5. War and peace

6. The Analects

7. Zhuangzi

8. History

9. Dream of the Red Mansion

10. Home

11. The rise and fall of great powers

12. The third wave

13. Social Functions of Science

14. Jiashen 300th Anniversary Festival

15. History of Chinese Literature

16. History of Western Philosophy

17. On the balance

18. History and Literature

19. Selected Works of Lu Xun

20. Midnight

Student community building, human landscape, network resources, general education

Common required course

2. Other forms of general education

3. Other forms of general education

4. College Life Guidance

General Education Other Teachings

New Humanities Education

Classic reading as the core

Misunderstanding of Humanities Education

Memory over thinking

2. Misunderstanding Humanistic Knowledge as Humanistic Spirit

The appearance of globalization and the appearance of substantial globalization

1. "Interconnectivity" around the world is getting closer

2. "A World Without Borders" has arrived

3. The so-called "end of a nation-state"

The essence of globalization

1. Globalization is highly one-sided and almost synonymous with "Americanization"

2. The more globalized regions are more vulnerable

3. The "central country" at the center of globalization is becoming more gangsterized

4. Deepening the gap between rich and poor

The problems of contemporary humanistic education: the advantages of textbook-centered educational methods

Textbooks are similar to "packaged knowledge" and "software packages", passing on the knowledge that the academic community has achieved to a high degree of consensus

Disadvantage

1. Memory teaching method leads to critical thinking of extreme poverty

2. Humanities education reduced to a "concept game"

The meaning of classic reading in the new era

Sociopolitical

2. The connotation of metaphysics

3. Return to the Nature of Human Mind

Quality education

Moral quality

Cultural quality

Business quality

Physical and mental quality