狄考文与我国近代科学教育的发端

Calvin Wilson Mateer and the Origin of Modern Science Education in China

在中国近代科学教育发端过程中,美国传教士狄考文及其所创办的登州文会馆无疑占有重要位置。狄考文基于传教的目的,主张进行全面教育,培养能够胜过中国传统士大夫的新式人才,为此,特别重视西方近代科学的教育。他抓好科学教育的基础学科数学,并开设了物理、化学、天文、生理、地质等自然科学课程以及音乐、历史、地理、道德伦理学、政治经济学等人文社科课程。在办学过程中,他传播西方科学思想,编著科学教科书,注重教学仪器建设和实验教学,培养了掌握西方科学知识的新式人才,为中国近代科学教育的发展做出了重要贡献,值得后人的重视、研究和学习。

In the process of the origin of modern science education in China, American missionary Calvin Wilson Mateer and Tengchow College founded by him undoubtedly occupied an important position. Based on the purpose of missionary work, Calvin Wilson Mateer advocated the comprehensive education and the cultivation of new talents who could surpass the traditional Chinese literati. Therefore, the education of Western modern science has been given special attention. Calvin Wilson Mateer paid close attention to mathematics, which is the basic subject of science education, and also offered courses in physics, chemistry, astronomy, physiology, geology and other natural sciences, as well as humanities and social sciences such as music, history, geography, moral ethics, political economy and so on. In the process of school running, Calvin Wilson Mateer spread western scientific thoughts, compiled science textbooks, focused on the construction of teaching instruments and experimental teaching, cultivated new talents who mastered Western scientific knowledge, and made important contributions to the development of modern science education in China. It is worthy of attention, research and learning.