西方现代儿童观发展初探

Discussion on Modern Concept of Child in the West

在西方教育发展的过程中,一些教育家提出了各具特色的儿童观。西方现代儿童观肇端于18世纪法国教育家卢梭,开创了西方现代儿童观的发展道路。20世纪美国教育家杜威提出的新的儿童观,为西方现代儿童观的发展奠定了理论基础。当代意大利幼儿教育家蒙台梭利在大力提倡新的儿童观的同时,又把它应用于教育实践,推动了西方现代儿童观的发展。20世纪以来,以儿童为本位的现代儿童观的提倡和应用已成为当代幼儿教育的一种趋势,这必将会推动幼儿教育的改革和发展。

The emergence and development of modern concep of child in the West can be traced back to the 18th century when J. J. Rousseau paved the way of modern concept of child. As a chief deputy of modern educational theory in the West, J. Dewey expounded systematically a new concept of child at the turn of last century and found a theoretical basis for the development of modern concept of child in the West. Contemporary infant educator M. Montessori advocated a new concept of child and put it to use in the practice of the Children's House. This has not only promoted the development of modern concept of child in the West, but also pushed the use of modern concept of child in the West forward in practice of infant education. Since 20th century, modern concept of child has become a central theory of education in the world, and has promoted the reform and development of infant education.