Under the background of WTO, this social organization has not only been maintained and developed, but also played an increasingly important role in society.
This makes universities different from
"
Any existing institution
"
. Even think that universities are now
"
Not only by American education
The center of American life. It is the main social service provider and the main worker of social change after the government.
tool
……
It is the source, advocate, promoter and communication center of new ideas.
"
Therefore, in the whole history of universities,
Educators keep discussing the functions of universities.
The reason why universities exist,
The relationship between university and society,
form
View from a height or a distance
"
Philosophy of higher education
"
This theme,
Clark, President of the University of California, USA
Kerr
(Clark Kerr)
At Harvard University
He delivered a series of speeches at the Godkin lecture held by the Institute of Science.
This paper systematically expounds his thoughts on modern American universities.
these
This speech was published in the same year, entitled "The Functions of Universities"
(the purpose of the university)
clark
Kerr believes that,
"
The two biggest impacts have created the modern American university system and made it unique. These two
Both attacks came from outside the university, mainly from the federal government. These two shocks are to meet the needs of the country.
"
The first influence is the land grant movement.
The early colonial colleges in the United States were almost modeled after Oxford and Cambridge.
Developed,
According to the report of Yale University Professors Association 1828
The main purpose of the college is to broaden students' minds.
Wisdom,
Cultivate people with elegant taste and Christian moral quality.
With the rapid development of American industry and agriculture,
This old one
The higher education system has been severely criticized. 1857, a newspaper in Georgia published an article criticizing state universities.
Learn, the article pointed out that:
"
We are now living in a different era, an era that needs practical knowledge, but the country is big.
Learning can't keep up with this era,
So it can't meet the needs of the country,
This era needs people with practical skills,
Need to work
Besides scientific farming, Shicheng will also build roads, railways and mines.
"
At the suggestion of Congressman Morrel, 186
President Lincoln signed the Morrel Act two years later. The law stipulates from the beginning:
"
The purpose of this law is to allocate funds to States and territories.
Commons,
So that they can establish colleges that attach importance to agricultural and technical education.
"
The objectives of the college are
"……
Teach agriculture and technology.
Close the discipline, thus promoting the life, art and practical education of the industrial class in all walks of life.
"
Stimulated by this bill, the United States
China University has achieved rapid development,
From 1862 to 1922,
Sixty-nine land-grant colleges have been established.
For society.
Providing services has become another major function of universities. In the emphasis on science and philosophy, from Humboldt's emphasis on research in Germany,
Postgraduate training,
Under the influence of the idea of freedom of university teaching,
Based on the establishment of 1876 Hopkins University.
A new type of university has emerged in America.
—
Research university. As Kerr pointed out,
"
German rationalism and American civilians
The party's ideas have been integrated in this new university.
The combination of pure intelligence and new pragmatism is not necessarily reliable, but it is successful.
alliance
"
The second great influence on universities began with the federal government's funding for scientific research during World War II.
The Second World War
Before,
The research system of a university is a research system funded by private funds.
Major foundations and foreign state departments
Compared with research funds, the federal research budget in the United States is pitifully small. To this end,
Many American scientists call on the federal government to increase
Scientific research funds. At that time,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachu-Setts Institute of Technology)
President Karl
Compton once published such an article in The New York Times.
Article:
"
Let science work! Public welfare needs a national science plan.
"
. However, these activities and appeals have not produced any results.
Actual results.
When World War II broke out,
The actual needs of the war made American universities quickly devote themselves to wartime scientific research.
be located
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachu-Setts Institute of Technology)
about
"
Radiation laboratory
"
More than 30 radar systems have been developed. With the participation of a large number of university scientists
"
Manhattan worker
travel
"
The developed atomic bomb also played a considerable role in the victory of the war and opened up new politics, economy and military affairs.
Time magazine. These achievements made by universities in wartime scientific research have once again fully proved to the society and the federal government.
"
collegiate
function
"
From 1949 to today,
It has a history of 46 years.
These 46 years of college life
"
function
"
How about it,
It is also a question worth thinking about but difficult to explain clearly.
Recently,
In some media,
It is suggested that China University.
"
no
So useful theory
"
It is pointed out that the talents trained by China University have not played their due role, and the huge shortage of funds at present makes people even more
Helpless, it makes people think deeply.
Functions of universities
Finally, a passage from Whitehead is quoted to explain the function of universities:
"
Under modern living conditions,
The law is absolute,
A race that does not attach importance to well-trained intellectual resources is doomed to extinction.
Not all your heroic qualities,
you
All social charm, all talents, all land or sea victories can make fate retreat.
Today we
Be able to stand on your own feet,
Tomorrow's science will take a bigger step forward,
Any judgment that can be given by illiterate people will not arouse people again.
Compassion.
"
In Clark
In Kerr's and Whitehead's view, whether a university can have this function involves not only the existence of the university itself.
In research and development,
It seems to have a certain degree of connection with the survival of the nation.
I hope not many people think this is alarmist.
Shrug your shoulders.