职业教育与普通中等教育关系之探——以“斯内登与杜威之辩”为例

Snedden and Dewey on the relationship between vocational and secondary education

20世纪初期,职业教育与普通中等教育的关系问题,成为美国教育变革中极具争议性的焦点议题之一。支持独立职业教育体系的大卫·斯内登与支持综合教育计划的杜威,针对该问题进行了两轮笔墨较量。斯内登站在"为了效率而职业、为了职业而教育"的立场上,将教育作为提升社会效率的途径,建议职业教育自成体系,与公立中学并存不悖;杜威则站在"通过职业而进行教育"的立场,建议将职业教育作为普通教育的补充,纳入公立中学体系之内。二人的论争在某种程度上是对教育与社会现实关系的不同理解造成的,教育思想的差异决定了教育立场及实践方式的不同。二人的论争对20世纪美国公共学校变革,尤其是公共学校职能的转变产生了深远影响。对我国普通中等教育改革具有一定的启迪意义。

The relationship between vocational and secondary education is one of the most controversial issues in the reform of American education in early 20th century. While David Snedden favors a dependent vocational education system, John Dewey supports a comprehensive education plan. Both have even had a battle of words. The former holds the view of vocation for efficiency and education for vocation, claiming that education is the approach to promotion of social efficiency. However, the latter argues for education through occupation, claiming that the vocational education should be a supplement to general education, or as a part of the public secondary education. The debate has a far--reaching influence on reforms of Ameri- can schools.