Lu Meng, an American educational historian, is the representative of the theory of the origin of educational psychology. He believes that the original form and method of education are mainly children's unconscious imitation of adults in daily life. Meng Lu is mainly engaged in the study of educational history. His educational works include Textbook of Educational History, Principles of Secondary Education, China in Evolution, etc., and he is the editor-in-chief of Encyclopedia of Education. In the book History of Education, he devoted a chapter to China's ancient education and expounded China's ancient educational thoughts, systems and methods.

Main viewpoints of four theories on the origin of education

1, the theory of biological origin-education is a phenomenon in the animal kingdom.

In the theory of biological origin put forward by the French philosopher Little Noel, education is regarded as a common phenomenon in the animal kingdom. Literno believes that education appeared before the birth of human beings, and the phenomenon that animals impart "experience" and "knowledge" because of survival competition is also a kind of education. This view attaches importance to the eternal development of education, but ignores the essence of education because of human social practice.

2, the theory of psychological origin-education is a kind of imitation behavior dominated by the heart.

According to the psychological origin theory put forward by American educator Monroe, education is actually a phenomenon that children unconsciously imitate adult behavior. Meng Lu held a negative attitude towards Little's "Theory of Psychological Origin", thinking that he ignored the essential psychological differences between human beings and animals, thus failing to understand the true connotation of education.

3. The origin of labor theory-education is a social phenomenon caused by labor.

In the theory of labor origin, education is regarded as a social phenomenon produced by labor. This theory holds that the emergence of human beings and the development of society are closely related to labor. Without labor, there would be no current system. In The Origin of Labor, the representative who advocates this theory thinks that the complexity of labor behavior itself needs to transmit human social practical knowledge and experience through education to meet the needs of social development, that is, labor has produced human society.

4. Myth Origin Theory-Education originates from providence.

Among the four theories about the origin of education, the most mysterious and nihilistic is the "myth origin theory". The "myth origin theory" holds that the generation of education is the only way that the gods leave to human beings to promote human development. This mythical theory combined the social background and human thought at that time. However, due to its lack of theoretical support, it also violates the essence that education is a unique behavior of human beings and cannot be used as a reference for studying the origin of education. It was not long before it was opposed and overthrown by later scholars.