This educational model was very popular in ancient Greek and Roman society, which had a far-reaching impact on the later European education system, especially military education.
First of all, Spartan education emphasizes the exercise of body and will. In Spartan society, children received strict military training from a very young age, including fencing, equestrian, swimming, climbing and other skills. This kind of training is not only to enhance their physical fitness, but also to cultivate their discipline and obedience. In addition, Spartan children have to accept a hard lifestyle, including eating coarse grains, living in a humble house and working in cold and hot summer. You can exercise your willpower and endurance.
Secondly, Spartan education pays attention to cultivating children's collective consciousness and social responsibility. In Spartan society, every family and the whole society are a big family, and children should learn to obey the principle that collective interests are higher than individual interests from an early age. Under the influence of this collectivism concept, children will learn to help each other, care for and respect others, and form a harmonious social atmosphere.
However, although Spartan education pays attention to the exercise of body and will, it does not ignore the cultivation of intellectual education. Children in Sparta have to learn various subjects since childhood, including history, law, philosophy, mathematics and so on. The study of these subjects is not only to enrich their knowledge reserves, but also to cultivate their thinking ability and innovative spirit.
In addition, Spartan education also pays attention to cultivating children's moral quality. In Spartan society, every citizen must observe discipline, fulfill his obligations and be loyal to the country and people. This social morality not only influenced children's education, but also profoundly shaped the spiritual outlook of Spartan society.
Of course, great changes have taken place in modern society, which is essentially different from ancient Spartan society. However, we can still get some inspiration from the education in Sparta. Under today's education system, we still need to pay attention to students' physical quality and will exercise, and cultivate their discipline and obedience.
Characteristics of Spartan education
1. Emphasize physical and physical training: Spartan children are taught physical training and combat skills from an early age, and this training continues until adulthood. In addition, Spartan adults must maintain their combat skills through regular military training and combat exercises.
2. Strict hierarchy: Spartan society is a hierarchical society, and education is no exception. Children are divided into different social classes and receive different education from birth. This kind of education emphasizes obedience, discipline and loyalty to adapt to the hierarchy of Spartan society.
3. Pay attention to collective interests: Spartan education emphasizes collective action and team spirit, and teaches children to work hard for the interests of the whole community from an early age. This kind of education helps to cultivate the Spartans' spirit of unity and collective consciousness.
4. Lack of individualism and creativity: Because Spartan society emphasizes collective action and obedience, Spartan education also lacks individualism and creativity. Children in Sparta were taught from an early age to follow traditions and customs, not to pursue their own interests and hobbies.
5. Ignoring culture, art and science: Because the focus of Spartan society is military and politics, Spartan education also ignores the development of culture, art and science. Spartan adults are mainly concerned with war and politics, not literature, art and science.
6. Cruel education methods: Spartan education sometimes adopts cruel education methods, such as corporal punishment, hunger and hard training. These methods are used to cultivate children's discipline and obedience, but they are also considered inhuman.
7. Limited relationship with the outside world: Due to the closed and military nature of Spartan society, Spartan education rarely contacted with the outside world. Spartan adults mainly pay attention to internal political and military affairs, rather than economic and cultural exchanges with the outside world.