以教育观察中国--廖泰初的教育人类学研究

Observing China through Education:Liao Taichu’s Research of Educational Anthropology

廖泰初以人类学功能学派为理论指导,以社区研究为主要方法,展开对20世纪30、40年代中国教育的研究。他试图以教育为中心,进而关注与此相关的社会、政治、经济等一系列问题。他重视对文化做整体性认识和理解,始终将教育视为文化之一部,将教育视为一种社会功能,将教育制度视为互相勾连的社会制度之一。他强调历时与共时研究并重,既关注中国社会自身的文化传统,同时强调对当时社会现实状况进行彻底而深刻的认识和理解。以此为基础,找到中西文化的“互让点”,找寻中国教育的出路。廖泰初的教育理念,强调要立足原野,从民众现实需求出发,走温和的改良路线。

In the 1930s and 1940s,Liao Taichu began studying on Chinese education by the use of a functional theory and community research methodology.He made an effort to concentrate on education and focus on a number of related social,political,economic and other issues.He stressed a holistic understanding of culture,constantly seeing education as a component of culture,education as a social function,and education as one of the interconnected social systems.He emphasized both synchronic and diachronic studies,paying attention to Chinese society’s own culture and traditions while also highlighting a thorough and in-depth awareness and study of the social reality of that period.Based on these,he looked for a“compromise point”between Chinese and Western culture and a strategy for Chinese education.The focus of Liao Taichu’s educational philosophy is on the necessity for a field foundation and a gradual improvement path from the actual demands of the people.