Influence Of The Development About Science Education Purposes On Its Contents In American Primary And Secondary Schools After Word War II

Being one of the most developed countries in education of the world. American always plays a leading role in the process of education reform. . Studying on the influence of the evolution of science education purposes on its contents has a particular meaning for the establishment of the science education purpose and the reform of its contents in China.This thesis describes objectively the purposes of science education and its contents from three stages: 1950s - 1960s,1970s and 1980s.lt represents that these factors such as .'political environment inside and outside, the development condition of domestic economy and scientific technologies, decide on the formation of the science education purpose. Because the government, educators, and the masses of people all focus on science education purposes trend to one and another balance, the changes of which affected its contents noticeably and directly. On the whole, in America, science education purposes experienced three periods, in which they are to train the future scientists, cultivate workers with productivity and educate people who are full of scientific literacy, American science education contents centered course knowledge and emphasized on theories in 1960s, the application of scientific knowledge and on practices in 1970s,the understanding of science and on foundations in 1980s, including the history of science N scientific philosophy, etc.Through the study, it is found that scientific education purposes are various in different stages in America. And even if in the same stage, they are not unchangeable. So, there are both major purpose and minor purpose in each stage, which affected science education contents separately. It specifically displays in the following respects: First is the synchronization of science education purposes and the changes of its content. Second is the multiplicity of science education purposes leading its contents to the characteristics. Third is the primary and the secondary of science education purposes make its contents embody the inclination. The inspiration we can draw fromHIthe research into the American science education is stated in two aspects: what is selected for science education depend on its purpose which accords with the demands of the age. The selection for science education should also emphasize the level of science and reflecting the demands of education at the same time.