美国殖民地时期教育发展主要特点探析

Main Characteristics of Development of Education in Colonial America

殖民地时期的教育是美国教育的起步阶段,具有明显的时代特点。宗教奠定了这一时期教育的基础,是其产生与发展的原动力。这一时期兴办的大学在继承英国大学传统的同时,因地制宜,不断改革创新,为发展注入了生命力。在追求实现宗教目的的同时,它们也十分注重为社会经济发展培养所需要的人才。在此过程中,大学办学模式多样化,彼此自由平等竞争,崇尚自主与独立,逐步显现出世俗、包容与开放的特质。所有这些在很大程度上确立了后来美国教育的发展方向,成为当代美国教育本质特征形成的源头。

As the initial stage of American education, education in colonial period was marked with quite a few distinctive characteristics. Religious passion laid its foundation and served as motive force. Colleges established during this period inherited the tradition of British universities on the one hand and carried out many reforms on the other to fit the local conditions. While pursuing religious objectives, they also attached great importance to educating students to meet the needs of social and economic development. The process of their advancement led them gradually to diversity, competition, autonomy and independence that set the direction for future and formed the murce of the defining features of American education today.