蔡元培论杜威

On the Opinions of Cai Yuanpei about John Dewey’s Pragmatism Education

蔡元培是中国介绍杜威实用主义教育思想的先驱,对杜威来华讲学发挥了关键作用。他在积极介绍、宣传杜威实用主义教育思想的同时,提出应该通过试验以补正"极端之实利主义"的弊病,验证杜威实用主义教育思想是否适合中国教育实际,并主张杜威实用主义教育思想应该与以孔子为代表的中国教育传统相融合,创立一种适合中国实际的新理论。蔡元培的这些思想,代表了上个世纪20年代杜威实用主义教育思想在中国传播、发展的正确方向,引领了当时教育理论"中国化"的探索和创造,推进了中国教育理论和实践的变革和发展。

Cai Yuanpei, a pioneer who introduced John Dewey＇s pragmatism education to China, played an important role in Dewey＇s lectures in China. Cai thought that Dewey＇s pragmatism education deserved to be introduced to China because his educational thoughts was fit to the educational truth of ＂nature and personality instead of law and uniform＂ . However, his thoughts were wrongly undertaken due to misunderstanding which is necessary to be revised for a better un- derstanding of whether his thoughts are suitable to China＇s education. And Cai suggested that Dewey＇s pragmatism education thoughts should be integrated with the ideas of Chinese traditional education represented by Confucius for a new educational theory corresponding to China. Cai＇s opinions above embodies the direction of introducing and developing Dewey＇s pragmatism educational thoughts, leads to the nationalization of the educational theory and spurs the change and promotion of education in China in 1920s.