The Forerunner Of The Modern Elementary Education: Zhang Huanlun

In modern Chinese history of education, Zhang Huanlun is a very important educator. He founded Zhengmeng Academy, the first Chinese modern primary school in Shanghai in 1878, which acted as the beginning of real modern primary school education of China. As a leading role, it changed the previous primary school education into a new pattern.The thesis is based on the data and material about Zhang Huanlun’s educational practice in Zhengmeng Academy and it is what I will focus on, especially the elementary educational practice. And then I will highlight its unique contribution to the Chinese elementary education, and discuss the process of transformation of primary school in modern China. The first chapter will draw the outline of the growing experience of Zhang Huanlun, and illustrating his growing environment and education experience, to find the value of Zhang Huanlun’s later educational practice. Then elaborate Zhengmeng Academy, which is established by Zhang Huanlun. I will analysis the preparatory condition of Zhengmeng Academy and the innovation comparing with the previous old elementary school. Then study the specific details such as teaching method, curriculum management system, teaching staff, fund raising and operation of Zhengmeng Academy.In the next part I will elaborate Zhang Huanlun’s elementary education thought, which is from the roots of its elementary school education thought to its concrete contents of education ideology. This chapter will comprehensively summarize Zhang Huanlun’s concept of moral education, valuing ability and political integrity, "Chinese&Western style" teaching concept, and view that to keep harmony between teachers and students, and attaching great importance to the spirit and the school motto of moral education thoughts, etc. The fourth chapter will study the contribution to the modern education of Zhang Huanlun’s elementary educational practice and thoughts, especially focusing on the establishment of the modern primary school, and study how his education thoughts the fit the ideological trend at that time. At the same time I will focus on the contribution to the modern education of Zhang Huanlun’s educational practice and education thought. In the last part, I will summarize Zhang Huanlun’s remarkable contribution to Chinese elementary education, then to find the beneficial enlightenment to our primary school education on the basis of the modern elementary educational practice and education thought.