The Book of Changes says, "Heaven is powerful, and gentlemen are constantly striving for self-improvement". The "heaven" here refers to the highest abstract ontology in the universe and the source of all values. From the relationship between heaven and man to the relationship between man and education, The Doctrine of the Mean makes the most general statement: "Destiny is nature, frankness is Tao, and cultivation is teaching. These words show the pursuit of the highest realm of ancient education to the fullest.
The ultimate goal of education is to cultivate sages.
The ultimate goal of traditional education is to cultivate sages. This kind of saint can not only restrain himself, but also help others and save the world. Most thinkers and moralists in China claim to be successors of "saints", so moral cultivation has become the core and purpose of ancient education. "University" said: "The way of a university is to be well-known, be close to the people and stop at perfection"; Han Yu pretends to be the successor of "orthodoxy"; Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties yearned for "the joy of Confucius and Yan". They also emphasize the cultivation of integrity and morality, advocate the combination of determination and self-control, and hone themselves with the ideal and ambition of "making a living for the world and the people". The ideal goal of this kind of education is often combined with ethics, but the former has a higher ideological realm.
3. Education pays attention to teaching students in accordance with their aptitude
Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude refers to adopting different educational methods according to the characteristics and actual situation of different educational objects. Confucius first advocated teaching students in accordance with their aptitude. He asked students to "listen to what they say and watch what they do" and observe their level to teach them: "If you are above the average person, you can teach them orally; Below China people, you can't say it orally. " . In his view, everyone's intelligence and personality are different, and education should be based on students' different talents and specialties. In The Analects of Confucius, Zhang Zi, Luz, Xia Zi, Zi Gong and Zhong Gong all asked Confucius about politics, and Confucius answered according to everyone's different personalities, showing tolerance and respect for different personalities. Mencius also attached great importance to teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and the reform of teaching methods. Zhuangzi advocates letting nature take its course. "Although the shin is short, if it is long, it will be sad; Although the crane handle is long, it is sad to break. " In his view, only by fostering strengths and avoiding weaknesses can we finally gain our position.