of institutions of higher learning might be given an
official title. At the time, schools refused to accept
girls, who could receive education at home only.
The
Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911),
ending feudal rule that had lasted more than 2000 years
in China. In 1912, the just-founded Republic of China
(1912-1949) reformed the existing feudal educational
system in a comprehensive manner. The principle of enabling
those who receive an education to "develop morally,
intellectually, physically and aesthetically in a balanced
manner" was first advanced. Around the year 1919,
China's education was faced with new changes. The New
Cultural Movement that started in 1915 advocated democracy
and science; the year of 1917 saw the outbreak of the
October Revolution in Russia; and in 1919 the anti-imperialist,
anti-feudal May
|
|
4th Movement rocked China. These exerted great influences
over the Chinese society and enabled education to keep
pace with the times. During the period after the May
4th Movement, the reading of Confucian classics was
abolished in school education; difficult-to-understand
classical Chinese was replaced by the vernacular for
textbooks; a phonetic alphabet was promoted;
colleges were allowed to enroll girl students; education
became more oriented toward the common people and more
practical; and some Western teaching theories and methods
were introduced into China, leading to a series of reforms
in the school system, curricula, teaching materials
and teaching methods.
On
October 1, 1949 the People's Republic of China
|