A 1934 version of "Education Plan" for a primary school in China

Recently I ran into an “Education Plan” for Xin’ai Primary School 6th Grade in Huai An (a city in Jiangsu Province of China), published in 1934. I was surprised and touched by the great ideas of those early Chinese educators. What I said “great ideas” were really just “small things” that reflected those educators’ focus on developing children in the most natural and humane way.

This primary school was founded by Wang Da, a student of the great Chinese educator Tao Xingzhi (189-1946). Tao had his own core for education: life is education, society is school, teach and learn combined.

The “Education Plan” was divided into four parts: Finance Support, Life, Environment, and Slogan (I don’t understand the last part). The second part “Life” is very fascinating, focusing on “Healthy Body,” “Science,” “Interest in Art,” “Production Skills,” and “Spirit of Freedom, Equality, Help each other.” (I translated all these directly.)

Just list some of the “requirements” below:
- Do physical exercise once everyday
- Clean (your) room once everyday
- Write a diary everyday
- Drink five big bowls of water and one big bowl of soya-bean milk everyday
- Have one motion everyday regularly (I’ve never tried to say this in English before O.O!)
- Read local and national newspaper everyday

Some other “requirements” based on year round includes:
- be able to recognize at least 10 kinds of most common plants and animals; observe the growth of one kinds and understand its relation to human
- be able to recognize at least 12 stars (that can be seen every night); understand some of the most important natural phenomena: wind, cloud, rain, fog, etc., and their relations to human
- be able to appreciate some famous songs and art as well as natural beauty
… …

In addition, there are some other very “practical” requirements. For example, learn to use at least 10 different kinds of most common medicine; be able to swim …
Some of these requirements may be regarded as very “traditional” since science had developed a lot. However, the education plan was very detailed and focused on children’s natural growth as 1) a human being within the natural environment and 2) a human being who will further develop intelligence.

I feel that the composer of this education plan really regards those children who will follow the plan as his/her children. The love and warmth in this plan are very touching and persuasive.

For those who want to know more about this “education plan,” here is the original Chinese title of it: 1934年度《淮安新安小学第六年计划大纲》

More information could be found on this Chinese blog: http://bulaoge.net/topic.blg?dmn=weixi&tid=2252117

One of the books that mentioned this education plan is 追寻失落的中国教育传统 (Looking for the lost Chinese traditional education) authored by 王丽 Wang Li.