If I were a primary school teacher, I would never regard the children who come to school as annoying little guys and annoying little devils; Whether they are smart, stupid, clean and dirty, I will call them "children". It's not a pretentious courtship, it's just floating in the mouth and shouting eloquently, but a kind gesture of expressing loyalty, sincerely admitting that they are friends and sincerely willing to be their friends. The growth and progress of children is my happiness; The weakness and dullness of children are my worries. I will happily keep it forever; With worry, I will try to get rid of it. Loyalty to friends should be like this; Otherwise, it will not be enough for me to be their friend, so I have to resign.
I will pay special attention to cultivating children's good habits. I think the word "education", in a profound way, some experts can write great works; On the surface, however, the phrase "form good habits" also explains its meaning. No matter how good the behavior is, if it is only performed once or twice, rather than for a lifetime, it is a play; No matter how valuable knowledge is, if it is only spoken and cannot be fully digested, it is also a language game. You must become a habit to use it for a lifetime. To cultivate children's good habits, I will start with the smallest and closest things; But it must be cultivated, and it must not be sloppy. For example, the switch of doors and windows, I want to teach them gently, "bang" is definitely unacceptable, enough to disturb people's minds, "eyah" should not be issued; It is not until they always gently open and close doors and windows anytime and anywhere that they think they have formed a good habit. Another example is vegetable cultivation. I want to teach them to do it seriously, how deep the roots should be buried, how wide the distance between two trees should be, how to adjust irrigation and how to defend against pests. All these need to be transformed from knowledge into practice. It is not until they are always careful when planting plants at any time and place that they think another good habit has been formed. This good habit is not only a good habit for one thing itself, but also can be extended to other things. Are you still willing to disturb people's hearts for such a trivial matter as opening and closing doors and windows? Are you still willing to commit crimes and do things that disturb social peace? Things like growing vegetables are rewarded because of hard work. For other things that are close to life, such as an abstract understanding of natural principles and a concrete analysis of social phenomena, are you willing to save time and trouble and let it go?
Of course, I want to teach children to read and write, but I don't take teaching children to read and write as my ultimate goal. I want to form a good habit of children's language from this aspect. Some psychologists say that thinking is a silent language, so good language habits are also good thinking habits. A word not only lets them know how to pronounce and write, but also lets them know its meaning and limitations and how to use it correctly. In a word, not only let them know how to say it, how to say it, but also let them know its tone and emotional appeal and where it should be used. A story can not only make them understand what they are talking about, but also develop their consciousness. A poem not only makes them understand what to sing, but also cultivates their emotions. Teaching literacy and reading are only means, and cultivating their good language habits, that is, good thinking habits, is the ultimate goal.
I will never teach children to sing the text in chorus like a monk chanting. When singing like this, the essence of language is completely lost, and it just becomes a mechanical movement of the vocal part, which has little to do with understanding and feeling. It has little to do with understanding and feeling, so what's the point of singing some sentences casually?
At present, the supply of books is very problematic during the Anti-Japanese War. Maybe you can't buy books when you start school, but I will never say, "How can you start school without books!" " I believe that books are a tool, but not the only one. Many classes don't have to use books; It can also be said that in addition to written books, there are also non-written books. Non-written books are listed around us and can be taken away at any time. If used properly, they are more effective than books that use words, because they omit a bridge of words. Citizens, society, nature and labor, these non-linguistic books are really inexhaustible; What does it matter if books can't be sold in bookstores? If you can only speak Mandarin, you must have books. However, I have a blackboard and chalk, and children can buy paper and pens, so it doesn't matter.
When children are naughty, or when their homework looks stupid, I will never raise my hand and hit their bodies. Hit it, and the pain will disappear in a few minutes at most; Even if it is hit hard, the body becomes red and swollen, and it disappears every day or two; It doesn't seem to matter much. However, this not only hit their bodies, but also hit their self-esteem; Physical pain or redness will soon disappear, but the damage to self-esteem will never be erased. What right do I have to hurt their pride? Besides, when I hurt them, my face must be ugly and my actions must be rude. If there is a mirror in front of me, maybe I will resent it myself. I am a good person, how can I behave so disgusting? Since I want to be their loyal friends and cultivate their good habits, how can I be so disgusting to them? Such disgusting performance, the previous efforts are not in vain? Won't future efforts have no effect? When I think like this, I never dare to raise my hand again. They are naughty and stupid for one or more reasons. According to my experience, I find out the reasons for being naughty from observation and analysis, and then treat the symptoms from the reasons. Will there be a naughty and stupid child around me? When I think like this, even if my feelings are impulsive to the point of rage, I immediately turn to calm down and don't want to vent my anger by hitting people.
I also want to be friends with my children's families. I am as kind and loyal to them as I am to my children. Children spend more time at home than at school; If I want to form their good habits, I must reach an agreement with their families. I want them to go east, but my family wants them to go west. I taught them this, but my family told them not to. They will go astray and my heart will be empty. I think it is not difficult to be a kind and sincere friend of my family; Show your sincerity, from the aspects of behavior, speech and attitude, let me see that I hope my children are good, that is, their children and siblings are good; Who doesn't love their children and siblings, and who will deliberately oppose me?
If I were a middle school teacher, I would never call my occupation "teaching", just as I would never call the entrance of students "reading". The book says that it is necessary for students to accumulate the experience of the ancients and the present. But as far as students are concerned, it is important to digest those experiences and turn them into their own. If we say "reading", we will erase this meaning, as if we can enter school by doing some work on books. So when I say "teaching", it also obliterates the significance of being a teacher, as if I were no different from the old gentleman in the study. There is a big difference between me and the old gentleman in the study. They only need to teach students to read the book well, they can pass the exam, and they can get ahead. There is nothing else for them. As for me, I want students to be human beings, do things and become sound citizens. I dare not use the word "teach" here. Because I use the word "teaching", it shows that I have such a complete set of skills, and my hands give students meaning; And my ability to do things can be said to be intact? Can I say for sure that I am a citizen with sound standards? I am older and more experienced than the students. If they want to get the experience they need, I will give them some instructions and examples because they are old and experienced, so as to prevent them from groping in confusion or taking many wrong paths to achieve their goals-that's all. Therefore, if someone asks me what I am doing, my answer will be "helping students get the experience of being a man and doing things", and I will never say "teaching".
I don't want to instill the abstract morality of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and love into students' minds. I think this method is useless, just like teaching nouns like "protein" and "fat" not to nourish the body. People who are loyal to their country, family, friends and themselves just follow the nature of habits, stay in their hearts and send them out, all of which are just right; It never occurred to him that Demu had a word "loyalty". He had to use the word "loyalty" in order to act in this way. The same is true of filial piety, benevolence and love. Furthermore, thinking about the word "loyalty" and doing "loyalty" are not necessarily "supreme loyalty"; Thinking of the word "filial piety" and achieving it are not necessarily "pure filial piety"; Because that is "doing something", not the first command of conscience. In order to make students' intentions and performances conform to certain moral purposes, so as to let nature take its course and not force them, my method is to let students develop good habits in one thing. For example, when the national flag rises and falls, I sing the national anthem wholeheartedly and salute the national flag, and also let the students sing the national anthem wholeheartedly and salute the national flag; When persuading the plane to donate money, I will donate a little according to my own ability, and at the same time let the students donate a little according to their own ability; When the school needs manpower, such as holding a cleaning or planning meeting, I try my best to attend, and students should also try their best to attend; When something happens in society, I regard it as a personal matter and try my best to find the best solution. At the same time, students should take it as a personal matter and try their best to find the best solution. In such matters, students can form good habits, and when they merge together, they will actually achieve the word "loyalty". Why should I be like them? First, I should have been "loyal" because I obeyed the first command of my conscience; Secondly, only in this way can we give guidance and provide examples, and do our duty to help students.
I feel that I am the same person as the students, and I live the same life as the students; Who wants students to practice, I will practice by myself; I won't do anything that advises students not to do. For example, I hope students are neat and diligent. I must make my appearance, clothes, office and dormitory very neat. I must be diligent in dealing with all kinds of official and private affairs. I hope the students will keep their promises and be honest with others. Every word I say must count as a word. I will show my sincerity to my classmates and make no secret of it. I advise students not to smoke. I will never smoke, and I will never say, "You can't smoke until you are my age." I advise students not to disturb the order. I will never disturb the order, and I will never do activities and frictions arranged by the tree party. Why is this happening? It is nothing more than doing two old sayings, called "first have yourself and then ask others; If you don't have yourself, then you are not everyone. "You must" have me "and" have no me ",express your wishes, and confide your feelings, in order to be true, powerful and easily moved. If you can't "have yourself" and "don't have yourself", you will first blush when you express and talk. Where is the real spirit? Where is the motivation? People see through your contradiction, and they can give you a knowing smile at most. Where will you be moved? Whether the school has a tutorial system or not, whether I am an improper tutor or not, I am prepared to do so; Because my name is teacher, anyone who bears the teacher's name has the responsibility to help students.
I don't want to teach students to do things in name only. Students' autonomous associations were established, study and art research societies were organized, articles of association were adopted, and staff members were elected. There will be nothing else in the future, just like when there is no such club; This is nominal. The library was established and the school garden was managed. After a burst of joy, there are only a few books left in the library, and there are not one or two readers a day. The school garden is overgrown with weeds and cobwebs everywhere, and no decent vegetables and flowers can be found. This is a nominal matter. It is better not to do such a nominal thing; If students get used to it, no matter what they do, they will be so nominal all their lives. Is there any hope of gradual and complete success in all practical affairs? When I say it's better not to do it, I don't mean that there should be no clubs, libraries, school parks and other equipment. I'm just saying that you must do those things seriously, worthy of the name. Autonomous societies insist on "autonomy" and research societies insist on "research". The project may be simple and the homework may be easy, but whatever is mentioned, we should do it in a down-to-earth manner. With a library, we must read for reference, and with a school campus, we must manage irrigation seeds. The scale may be small and the categories may be scarce, but since this equipment is available, it must be used effectively and every opportunity must be missed. Moreover, those things that are by no means a whim, once done, must be done all the time, with the life of the school. If you work hard this semester, you will lose it next semester; This year is worthy of the name, and next year it will exist in name only. From the whole process, it is still in name only, and it is still not enough to form students' good habits.
No matter which course I take, I naturally have to recognize the goal of that course, such as Chinese training, and develop good language habits; The department of physics and chemistry is the key to understanding nature and then manipulating it. At the same time, I don't forget that all kinds of classes have a general goal, that is, "education"-to cultivate sound citizens. Every kind of homework is like a "spoke" on a wheel, and many spokes must be concentrated on the "axis" of "education" in order to become the whole wheel to push the country and the nation forward. Although this concept is almost abstract, it is very important. With this concept, I will not teach my own lessons without contacting other teachers; With this concept, I won't teach my homework too loosely and too lightly, and I won't teach my homework too tightly and too deeply to save trouble. Being a man and doing things cannot be divided into subjects; For example, a student has been making crops for generations. He helps his father and brother to make crops. Do you think this belongs to civics, biology or mathematics? For another example, a student went out to travel, met many people, visited many historical sites and traveled a lot of mountains and rivers. Do you think this belongs to history, sports or art? The division of disciplines in schools is out of necessity; If you want to know how to eradicate decimals, you must know how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Knowing the Tang dynasty, we can't help but know what dynasties it was before and after; Because of this necessity, there is a method of teaching in different subjects. The life and work of students now and in the future, like helping crops and traveling abroad mentioned above, are comprehensive and inseparable; Then, can I just focus on sub-subjects and ignore synthesis, only recognize the objectives of my own curriculum and forget the overall goal of being a sound citizen?
No matter which course I choose, I won't explain it specifically. From the time I ran into the classroom until the bell rang, I read and said one sentence. I think, even in Chinese class, students should try to read and lecture, learn the meaning of the article, and try to find out the rules of the article. Because they have to read books and newspapers all their lives, they must be alone and no one can rely on them. Chinese teachers must never accompany them all their lives and read newspapers for them. The job of Chinese teachers is to lead them to discuss together after they try it themselves; If they make mistakes, correct them; If it is missing, give it to them; They cannot analyze and synthesize, and they cannot analyze or synthesize for them. In this way, like toddlers, they can gradually walk without the help of others. The Chinese class is still like this, and other classes can be imagined. The teacher holds a physics and chemistry textbook or a history textbook, and the students read and listen to a sentence in front of the physics and chemistry textbook or the history textbook. This scene, if you think about it carefully, is so funny and cruel! How do you say funny? Because after that, any homework becomes a Chinese class, and it is a Chinese class that can't be taught well. How to say cruel? Because students have no job except attending classes, it is really an uncomfortable punishment to attend classes for four or five hours. When I say punishment, I am by no means exaggerating; Imagine what kind of music we are listening to. If the speaker's words are meaningless and rarely interesting, he will feel tired after listening for ten or twenty minutes. Even if the speaker's speech is meaningful and interesting, if it is extended to two or three hours, we should move the chair and wipe the soles as a sign of leaving the seat; Also, because listening is a passive thing in the end, passive things have been done for too long, and it is inevitable that you will feel punished. When you are tired of listening and have to listen, the most natural tendency is: appearance means that you are listening, but your mind is not listening; At this moment, maybe he is wandering outside his mind, thinking that the swan is coming, or thinking nothing, like an old monk who meditates. Teaching students to listen blindly is actually tantamount to asking them to wander outside their thoughts or think nothing, and it is tantamount to destroying the function of their psychological activities. Is it cruel?
I am not afraid to waste students' efforts; I want to teach them to try reading, lecturing, discussing and practicing, and do a lot of work, far more than attending classes; I want to teach them initiative. I'll never tell them anything they haven't tried. I won't talk until they try. But I'm not telling the book sentence by sentence, I just correct it! Give them supplements, analyze or synthesize for them.
If I become a university teacher, I still won't call my career "teaching". Theoretically, college students should be able to read books by themselves better than middle school students. I either make up my own handouts and send them to them, or use the university series of the Commercial Press or other books as teaching materials for them, and they can read chapter by chapter without my teaching. If I run into the classroom and repeat what is said in the handout and textbook until the bell rings, I will run out again, which is a waste of breath for me, a waste of time for them, and so boring; I don't want to do such boring business. I teach a course, and the whole system or research method of that course is at least my own. According to the usual saying, it is the so-called "experience", so we dare to run into the classroom and tell the students what to do. I not only gave them a little of mine, but also taught them and helped them. Each of them got a little of theirs. Only in this way, the sum of culture will accumulate more and more, the texture of culture will be better than today, and tomorrow will surpass today. This is not "teaching". If someone asks me what this is called, my answer will be: "helping students learn."
It is said that the former boxing teacher often hid with one hand and refused to take it out with all his strength; Its intention is to maintain its own advantages. The apprentice is clever anyway, but he has one less hand than me. I don't want to learn from that boxing teacher, and I will never hide my hand. I will make these methods as public as possible in front of students. Even if I opened the way alone, even if I discovered the Dhamma alone, I was able to open it because of various "potentials" and karma. When I discovered it, I seized it; What is there to boast about? How can I think I have this secret? If I see a little-known book or collect rare information, I will never hide it, never mention it, just secretly write my academic paper. If other people, including students, get those books or materials and write academic papers, won't they be as good as me, maybe better than me? It is really a despicable psychology to treat books or materials as personal things, and be glad for your own "existence" and for others' "non-existence"; My mind, ask yourself, is not that mean.
I don't want to tell my students with a straight face what ideas are not allowed to touch and what books are not allowed to read. No contact, no contact, no reading, no reading is human nature, especially young people. What should be banned can't be banned after all. Why bother? Moreover, university time is both "study" and "research", and the more materials to be studied, the better; If some of them are excluded, isn't it narrower rather than wider? In the chemical laboratory, toxic elements are not excluded; Knowing that it contains toxicity, we should teach students to analyze it and get a real understanding. What ideas and books, if considered unacceptable, can not be treated as toxic elements or should be studied? Students exercise their ability of discrimination and judgment in the research, so as to draw conclusions. If it is really necessary, they will definitely point fingers. This cannot but be restrained, and its effect is more practical than blindly prohibiting it.
I want to be a friend of students, and I also want students to be my friends. All the students in my class, I should at least know their temperament and habits, but also let them know my temperament and habits. This seems to have nothing to do with my course, assuming it is Song Ci research or engineering design, but who can really say it has nothing to do with it? Not only do I meet students in class, but I also meet them in my spare time and have a heart-to-heart talk with them, just like meeting an intimate old friend. If they come to my house, I will never ask coldly, "What are you doing here?" If they have any questions, ask deeper, and I will never shake my head and say, "It's too early for you to understand this!" " "When I ask a simple question, I never smile and say," Do you still want to ask this? I was just about to test you! When they hear "What are you doing here?" They thought to themselves that they couldn't say what to do and would never come again. Asking deep questions or shallow questions is not good for them. They don't know what kind of questions are appropriate, so they will never ask them again. This kind of language and attitude of rejecting people away from home should not be possessed by strangers, let alone friends who should be dating.
Don't forget the big goal of "education"; No matter what courses I teach, I must be responsible for that overall goal. Assuming that my course is Song Ci research or engineering design, I will never think that I don't have to do anything except teach Song Ci research or engineering design. I might as well indulge myself, go whoring, gamble, or do other improper things. I want to be a sound citizen, and I shouldn't do these things; I want to be a qualified university professor, especially I shouldn't do these things. A teacher who teaches Song Ci research and engineering design will have an intangible but profound influence on students if he misbehaves. I can't help estimating its depth. I can't teach students to respect me because respect is not respected, as far as students are concerned, but not as far as I am concerned; But I always try my best to gain their respect in my courses and behaviors, because I am their teacher. Earning their respect is not to satisfy my vanity, but to prove that I am responsible for the course and the overall goal.
Whether I am a teacher in a primary school, a middle school or a university, I should always remember that the students in front of me are all people who are ready to participate in the cause of founding the country. The cause of founding a country is big or small, but everything is necessary; Under necessary conditions, big undertakings and small undertakings are equal. In order to build a successful country, we must qualify all those who participate in various undertakings. Therefore, when a class of students graduate, I will examine them one by one: Is A qualified? B is it qualified? Is C qualified ... If all the answers are yes, I will be very satisfied with myself; Because there is nothing wrong with helping students, I have also contributed to the cause of founding the country.
Education Newsletter Volume 4, Issues 32 and 33.
This article is taken from Selected Readings of Educational Masterpieces by Ye Shengtao, Education Science Press, 20 13.