自由选课制的利弊得失——写在高考改革全面推行之际

CONSEQUENCES OF FREE COURSE-SELECTION IN HIGH SCHOOLS

西方实行自由选课的学分制,一方面使学生得以发展个人的潜能特长,实现人才培养的多样化;但另一方面,多数学生一直在利用选课自由避难趋易,不拿或少拿数理化课程。故学分制对于不同的学生群体效应是不同的。少数精英学生可以努力成才,大部分学生却未能获得应有的知识文化素养。即使美国少数精英高中强制学生修读多门理科课程,成效显著;亦难以扭转整体趋势。学分制实行百年的结果,北美理工科领域逐渐凋零,人才匮乏。作者呼吁切实了解学分制的实践结果和利弊得失,坚持中国自身实践多年的成功经验,并研究借鉴美国精英高中,扬长避短。

The recent reform of the national higher education entrance examination in China(gaokao),letting students choose preferred courses to test instead of taking all the specified examinations,has made free course-selection in high schools necessary.It is asserted that the credit system for course-selection widely used in secondary schools of U.S.,Canada,and other west countries,has dual consequences.On one hand,it allows students develop their diversified talents,thus gifted and hard-working students have a pathway to success.But on the other hand,many students have been taking advantage of the system and avoiding those difficult STEM(science,technology,engineering and mathematics)courses;therefore the majority of student body were held up,have not learned even the basics.In the United States,the credit system has been there for around a hundred years,fewer and fewer people have studied or worked in STEM areas.America is now a STEM-deficient nation,and has to rely on graduate students,scientists and engineers educated by other countries.To avoid getting into the same trap,China,when learning from the west,needs to know the advantages and drawbacks of the credit system thoroughly,and meanwhile adhere to its own successful educational practise;so as to ensure students achieve a good structure of knowledge.