| The opening of Shanghai in modern times brought about changes in the political and economic environment.After the establishment of concessions,the encroachment on their homeland led Shanghai gentry to explore the path of saving the country.They realized that they must make changes in education in order to cultivate new talents to save the nation.Meixi Elementary School,as the first modern Chinese-run elementary school in Shanghai,has important historical value in the process of modernizing education in Shanghai.Meixi Elementary School’s name has changed several times,but it has always adhered to the principle of "maintaining tradition while innovating" in a turbulent external environment,summarized its experience on the road to progress,and constantly innovated according to the changing times.When it was first established as Zhengmeng Academy,the education philosophy of "nurturing goodness through learning" was integrated into the entire education system,aimed at cultivating students who "understand current affairs and have clear moral principles." During the period of Zhengmeng Academy,it not only preserved the essence of traditional culture but also absorbed the advantages of Western modern school education.Its curriculum was set up to "educate students in morality,intelligence,and physical fitness" and taught in a combination of Chinese and Western styles.During the subsequent period of Meixi Academy,it began to flourish.It not only set up "Four Virtues" as its school motto,added foreign language courses,improved campus facilities such as botanical gardens,but also used "preserving traditions to create new developments" to broaden its funding channels.By the time of Meixi School,the course teaching gradually abandoned traditional content and adjusted the proportion of Chinese and Western courses,with explanation becoming the main teaching method.In terms of student management,the "Meixi School Regulations" were formulated,establishing a unique management model.Even until the period of Meixi Elementary School,all aspects of the school’s operations had been improved.The curriculum was tailored to grade characteristics,and teaching was widely linked to real-life and social realities.A curriculum for labor education was developed,and a school store was opened to implement vocational training while emphasizing a rich campus life.As the earliest new-style elementary school founded by Chinese people,Meixi Elementary School had far-reaching effects on the development of modern elementary education in Shanghai.In the 1870 s,Shanghai’s elementary education was dominated by traditional educational institutions;during the New Deal period in the late Qing Dynasty,new-style elementary schools were generally established;and during the Republic of China period,new-style elementary schools experienced full-fledged development and had their own distinctive characteristics.On the one hand,Meixi Elementary School kicked off the transformation of modern Shanghai’s elementary education and promoted the reform of modern Shanghai’s elementary education.On the other hand,Meixi Primary School explores the model of primary education for other modern primary schools by integrating Chinese and Western curriculum teaching and managing students in a relaxed and balanced way.Therefore,the development history of Meixi Elementary School is not only an important part of the history of modern elementary education in Shanghai,but also a microcosm of the modernization process of education in Shanghai. |
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