Mao Zedong and Kong Zhaoshou, the enlightened principals of the First Normal University.
Mao Zedong, who entered Hunan No.1 Normal University that year, received careful education, training and care from many tutors. At the same time, he also suffered the same fate as all the progressive students who pursued freedom and democracy at the same time-because he was incompatible with the old education system and was not allowed by individual conservative teachers or even school principals.
19 15, after Mao Zedong was punished for "student disturbance" by the school, three consecutive principals in the following school year were biased against him, regarded him as a "thorn in the side" against teachers, and prepared for discrimination. Faced with this unfair treatment, Mao Zedong, who has always had a strong sense of resistance, angrily applied to drop out of school after nearly four years of schooling and more than half of his studies, in protest against the school's suppression of the democratic style of study. At this time, a headmaster who had just arrived at the first normal school kept him and encouraged him to continue to complete all his studies. The new headmaster who took great care of Mao Zedong was Mr. Kong Zhaoshou, who was famous in Hunan education at that time.
"History of Hunan No.1 Normal University" contains: "Kong Zhaoshou, a native of Liuyang, Hunan Province, graduated from Hunan Normal University and studied in Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan, with a bachelor's degree in law. He once worked as a teacher in many middle schools and normal schools in Changsha, and 19 13 and 19 16 served as the first normal school principal twice. "
Kong Zhaoshou, who is in charge of a division for the first time, is the designer of the blueprint for school education and campus construction. 19 10, the school building of the first division was burned down by angry hungry people in Changsha, and was later stopped because of Hunan's response to the Wuchang Uprising. The large-scale reconstruction of the new campus was completed in the summer of 19 12 with a loan of 52,000 yuan. In the autumn of the same year, the school resumed classes and moved back to the new house from the "Hengqing Examination Hall". It was in such an extraordinary period that Kong Zhaoshou took over as the principal of the First Division in the spring of 19 13.
After the first division was rebuilt, the school building was magnificent, but it was also an empty building. Various teaching facilities and books disappeared in the fire, and many teachers left their jobs without pay because of the suspension of classes. Everything has to start from scratch. After Kong Zhaoshou came to power, he began a comprehensive innovation and re-creation activity.
Just as Kong Zhaoshou was committed to the revitalization of the First Division, the disaster had quietly approached him. At that time, Yuan Shikai used Sun Yat-sen to launch the "second revolution", suppressed the whole country by force, and cleared the way for the restoration of the emperor. His lackeys Ming, according to the master's wishes, led the Beiyang army to attack Hunan, forcing Tan to retreat to Guangdong. After Tang Bu entered Hunan, he began to slaughter revolutionaries and suppress anti-Yuan forces. For a time, more than 5,000 people were shot because of the so-called "party case". Kong Zhaoshou was hated by Tang Xiangming for faithfully implementing the educational reform laws of Nanjing Provisional Government and strongly opposing Yuan Shikai's dictatorship and feudal retro education.
19 14, 1 One day in June, Tang sent a battalion to surround the First Normal School and arrested Kong Zhaoshou. Fortunately, he got a tip-off from a sympathizer in the soup department. Kong disguised himself as a water seller, went out through a side door, took refuge in Japan, and studied at Hosei University in Tokyo.
19 16 In the summer, Yuan Shikai died of fear of sin amid national condemnation. Ming left Hunan, and Tan was appointed as the governor and overseer of Hunan by the Beijing government. At this time, Kong Zhaoshou also graduated from Tokyo Hosei University with a bachelor's degree in law. After learning about the domestic political development, he returned home from Japan. In view of his reputation and experience in running a school, he was re-appointed as the president of the first normal school. ...
However, on the first day of Kong Zhaoshou's appointment, he saw an application report signed by Mao Zedong on his desk.
Kong Zhaoshou carefully read Mao Zedong's application for suspension from school, and looked up Mao Zedong's resume from the "student roster", so he couldn't help thinking deeply. He thought that the first normal school was "Accor" in Hunan, and both the teaching environment and the teaching staff were first-class in Changsha. Many children from three townships rushed to come to this school. Mao Zedong, the son of a climber at the foot of Shao Feng Mountain, can come here to study. Theoretically, this is not easy. But why did he drop out of school? What are the reasons and secrets?
Kong Zhaoshou decided to find out what happened first, and then sign the application for suspension. After dealing with some preparations for the new semester, Kong Zhaoshou invited his good friend and natural history teacher of normal school to ask him about it. After introducing the details of Mao Zedong in detail, Mr. Fang told his friends that Mao Zedong was a good student with excellent academic performance, but he was criticized by his former leaders because he had some views on the school's educational methods and practices. Out of disappointment and conflict with the school, he had no choice but to drop out of school, which was the road he didn't want to take.
After listening to Fang's introduction, Kong Zhaoshou's heart was not calm. He believes that the main purpose of running education is to train talents who are useful to the country. Mr. Fang believes that it is "a talent for rejuvenating the country, a talent for enriching the people, and a talent for enriching the people." The responsibility of the school should be to constantly reform the educational model, create a more democratic and free learning environment, and make it better cultivated and grown, so as to step into the society and serve the country in the future, and never let such outstanding students lose. Otherwise, we are dereliction of duty as teachers. With this in mind, Kong Zhaoshou decided to interview Mao Zedong immediately in order to keep the student.
Just then, Mao Zedong found the principal's office to urge his report. So, two teachers and students who just met had a long talk. Moved by Kong Zhaoshou's sincerity and patience, Mao Zedong confided his heart to the new headmaster.
Mao Zedong told President Kong Zhaoshou frankly that he didn't like the First Normal School, although the natural environment and teaching conditions here were much better than the Fourth Normal School where he studied. However, in this school, "the will is not free", "the academic qualifications are too low and the partners are too evil" and "there are many rules in the school, and I agree with them very little".
He confided unreservedly to the new headmaster many troubles in the past few years after entering the first division. In his view, almost all school education is copied from the Japanese model, and the biggest defect is that there are many courses and heavy burdens on students, which restricts students from learning real knowledge. The first normal school is a secondary normal school, but the courses are much more than ordinary primary and secondary schools. In addition, the school authorities attach great importance to vocational training, adding various subjects of agriculture, industry and commerce, which is described as a "grocery stall" by his own metaphor, which is somewhat similar. Because of this, many compulsory courses conflict with his interest in learning. His study has always been emotional, which means that he usually studies according to his hobbies. He has his own theory: because he is interested, the more he reads, the more interesting and relaxed he is. Like a rest, people will not feel bitter and tired; Without interest, biting your teeth and reading is like chewing wax. Even with perseverance, you can't stand it. According to his self-study plan, his interest in learning focuses on literature, philosophy, history and geography, but he doesn't want to spend too much time and energy on other courses, and he is too lazy to strive for high scores and full marks, so some subjects are not satisfactory. The school measures students' scores in all subjects. If he fails the "exam", it will inevitably attract some prejudice and criticism from teachers.
Continue to confide in President Kong, saying that with his stubborn character, this kind of discontent is bound to break out. As a result, there was a student movement last year, and the school recorded it! Although Zhang Qian left the First Division shortly after, he changed three principals a year, but the school-running strategy was not as good as one. In the end, Peng Zhengshu, the principal who had been in office for just over a month, resigned because of students' opposition. He was so disappointed that he went to the headmaster's house three times a night and was ready to ask to drop out of school.
However, where are you going after dropping out of school? He thought he had to find a place to study, but he still went to study freely like in Dingwangtai Library. His family will definitely not agree. Once the fee is interrupted, how can he live independently? Besides, the first normal school is a serious school. Most of the students studying here are from poor families, and students with rich family and good political background are reluctant to enter normal schools. Therefore, there is no bad habit brought by dude here, and a good style of study of diligence, thrift and hard work has gradually formed. He feels that such an environment is beneficial to his knowledge. In addition, Mr. Yang Changji and Mr. li jinxi, after learning that he had the idea of quitting school, also came forward to dissuade him or wrote to persuade him. Based on these factors, it is uncertain whether to stay or not, and it is difficult to decide at the moment.
In this way, he sent away the spring of 19 16 and spent a short summer vacation. Seeing that the new semester is about to start, he is still hesitating. Finally, he finally got up the courage and submitted a written application for suspension from school to the newly appointed President Kong Zhaoshou ... "Generally speaking, I don't want to study hard, I don't want to study hard, I don't want to study hard. The first normal school is not the paradise I am looking for, so I asked the principal to allow me to drop out of school ... "Mao Zedong concluded by saying to President Kong.
After listening to Mao Zedong's story, Kong Zhaoshou deeply felt that this was a student with unique personality and insight. The questions raised have gone far beyond the understanding of a normal student and even far ahead of the reality of normal education. Therefore, Kong Zhaoshou didn't want to give him any empty preaching. He just suggested that Mao Zedong should not rush to make a decision to quit school, and wait and see for the time being, believing that he would make the best choice then.
After bidding farewell to Kong Zhaoshou, Mao Zedong told his friend Xiao Zisheng about his conversation with the new headmaster. Xiao Zisheng is two years taller than Mao Zedong. When Kong Zhaoshou was the principal in No.1 Division for the first time, he happened to study here and was familiar with the character and ability of the old principal. He told Mao Zedong that Kong Zhaoshou was a rare and good principal. He is well read, well managed and very concerned about his students. He was very popular in his former department. Xiao Zisheng advised President Kong to stay.
Therefore, Mao Zedong accepted the sincere retention of President Kong Zhaoshou and gave up the idea of dropping out of school. In early September, Kong Zhaoshou officially took office as the first normal school principal. To this end, the school held a grand welcoming ceremony and the opening ceremony of the new semester. When Kong Zhaoshou boarded the rostrum accompanied by the new educational director Fang and others, 1000 teachers and students all stood up and welcomed the anti-imperialist hero and the old headmaster back with warm applause!
At the meeting, Kong Zhaoshou made an exciting speech with tears in his eyes. From 19 14 1, he was forced to leave the first division and go to Japan to escape the pursuit of the Beiyang warlord Tang Xiangming. He talked about his attachment to his native land in a foreign land, the humiliation suffered by a stateless person, and his long-cherished wish to establish education and revitalize the country, and then put forward his "policy agenda" for returning to the first division this time-adapting to the new culture movement.
Kong Zhaoshou's speech inspired all the teachers and students, and the audience burst into warm applause. Like a warm breeze, it blows away the dull air that once permeated the First Division, and also blows away the haze of many progressive teachers and students, including Mao Zedong.
From this moment on, Mao Zedong's eyes presented a brand-new school, and he felt suddenly enlightened, as if the sky overhead was new and the sun was new. Even the "foreign building" with grey bricks and blue tiles built for several years in the school seems to be new! Perhaps from this moment on, Mao Zedong, who takes the world as his own responsibility, found a meeting point between his ideals and his wishes from the New First Normal University, and found fertile ground for "relying on big trees" to thrive.
Kong Zhaoshou, the old headmaster, returned to the first division, which caused a "sensational effect" among teachers and students. It is by no means a compliment to say that people want what they want, or that people want what they want. This not only has his reputation of anti-imperialism and anti-Yuan, but also has his achievements in running a school in the First Division.
Kong Zhaoshou, who returned to the first division, began a drastic reform. He absorbed the achievements of overseas education inspection, adhered to the direction of "advocating democracy" and adopted a school-running method in line with the trend of the new culture movement, which made the first normal education develop rapidly.
Due to the current situation and physical reasons, Kong Zhaoshou resigned as the principal in the summer vacation of 19 18, and died in Changsha soon after. However, future generations will never forget his achievements in the first division. It was highly praised in the history of the First Normal University: "Kong Zhaoshou followed the trend of the New Culture Movement and further developed the democratic education of the First Normal University by using the achievements of overseas investigation and education, and made it institutionalized and institutionalized. Therefore, Kong Zhaoshou made outstanding contributions to the construction of the First Division. This is Tan Yan's successor? The second principal who will be the most influential and combative in the first division in the future. " During this period, Kong Zhaoshou, who has the closest relationship with Mao Zedong, took one of the most influential innovative measures, and should take the lead in setting up student volunteers in the First Division.
19 16 autumn, shortly after Kong Zhaoshou became the president of the First Normal University, an epoch-making event happened in the history of the First Normal University-the student volunteers were established! It's like dropping a bomb on campus, and the whole First Normal School is boiling!
Why do schools that have been teaching classics and learning Chinese characters set up armies and conduct military exercises? This matter has to start with the political situation at that time and the purpose of running a school of President Kong Zhaoshou.
In the early years of the Republic of China, the northern and southern warlords scuffled, and Hunan became a military stronghold. Since 19 12, the northern and southern warlords Tan Yan? , Tang, Liu, Fu, etc. Hunan suffered a military disaster when the governor of Hunan was replaced. The first normal school is located on the edge of the railway line, and its school building is spacious, which has become a place where soldiers are stationed. 19 13 years, when Kong Zhaoshou first became the president of the first division, Tang Xiangming sent his subordinates to be stationed here. As a result, the school is in a mess, the safety of teachers and students is often harassed by stragglers, and nearby residents feel extremely uneasy. In this case, the school urgently needs an armed force to maintain the teaching order and the safety of students. This is the beginning of the first division to create student volunteers.
However, the deep-seated reason for the rapid establishment of the student volunteer army is the result of President Kong Zhaoshou's implementation of "military national education".
Kong Zhaoshou, who studied in Japan, spoke highly of the "militarism" education in Japanese school education and felt the pain of China's weak national strength. He believes that military can strengthen national defense, boost people's morale and revitalize the country. So he agreed with Cai Yuanpei, the first minister of education of the National Government, and wrote these four words on the horizontal plaque at the entrance of the auditorium. It is based on the educational policy of "military education" in the first division that the plan to establish student volunteers began to brew in Kong Zhaoshou's mind.
In about 19 16 10 months, Kong Zhaoshou personally wrote a "Submit the Extracurricular Volunteer Plan for Pilot Students" to Tan Yansi, Governor and Inspector of Hunan Province. At the beginning of the Opinion, he wrote on his guiding ideology: "I hereby recommend you to be re-elected as the president of the First Normal University. You should spare no effort to appeal to your conscience, actively improve and sort out your plan. First, we must determine the educational policy according to the current situation, with personality education, military national education and practical education as the sole teaching purpose, in order to save the country and strengthen the species ... Especially military national education is not only an ideology, but also an empty ideal, that is, it is enough to implement policies and achieve practical results. "
Then, Kong Zhaoshou stated four reasons for the pilot student volunteers in the Opinion: "First, it is appropriate to implement military national education according to the order of the Ministry of Education." "To conform to the world trend, we should adopt military nationalism." "As soon as we feel the state stimulus, we should advocate the spirit of martial arts." "First, attach importance to normal education, cast a young China, and prepare for future conscription."
The "Opinion" finally pointed out: "Only firearms are not prepared, and empty talk is rare and practical." So please distribute the guns according to the number of two companies. The submission was reported to the provincial capital Tan Yanhua? Aim immediately. He also personally determined that "inspiring patriotic thoughts, advocating martial spirit, studying military art and carrying out military education are the goals", "obeying all orders and commands is the first duty", and the National Day of the Republic of China is the anniversary of the founding of the Volunteers. The student volunteers of the first division were formally announced at the end of 10.
Kong Zhaoshou's pioneering work has aroused all kinds of repercussions among teachers and students in the First Normal University: some are jubilant and tell each other their heartfelt feelings; Some are whispering, and many are whispering; Some people stay out of it and stand by. According to Xiao Zisheng's memory, there were differences of opinion between him and Mao Zedong. In a discussion, Xiao thought that the educational purpose of "moral, intellectual, physical and artistic work" advocated by the school was reasonable, but normal. Only one thing, aesthetic education, is more innovative. He also wrote a paper based on this subjective idea, called "Replacing Religion with Aesthetics". Mao Zedong disagreed with Xiao Zisheng's view that "military education" is the most worth advocating, and it is more important to insist on "military education". What's the use of talking about aesthetics if the country is weak? The first is to defeat the enemy who invaded us! What does this have to do with aesthetics? " Xiao believes: "The perfection of virtue has always been emphasized in ancient poetry, classical works and music." "What's the use of perfect virtue if the country is weak?" Mao Zedong asked: "The most important thing is to be strong and have the power to defeat the enemy, and defeating the enemy can show virtue."
They argued for a long time, but in the end, no one could convince anyone. Xiao Zisheng disapproved of organizing student volunteers, and Mao Zedong became the first person to sign up for volunteers. Subsequently, many students enthusiastically signed up for student volunteers.
Finally, the school selected students with strong physique and excellent academic performance from a large number of applicants to join the Volunteers, and organized them into a camp with two companies, three rows and three classes, each class has 14 people, a total of 269 people. President Kong Zhaoshou is the "Commander-in-Chief" of student volunteers.
From then until graduation, Mao Zedong experienced nearly two years of student volunteer life. This period of life not only injected martial spirit into his mind, but also made him undergo the test of strict military discipline, systematically received military training in tactics, weapons and terrain, and cultivated his interest in learning military technology and command art, especially war strategy, thus improving his own military quality and accumulating strength for the great cause in the future. Throughout Mao Zedong's life, these will play an inestimable role in his future military struggle career-the "Staff Sergeant Lian" in the student volunteer army of the First Normal University became the "Red Mountain King" in all directions after 10 years, and became the commander-in-chief who led millions of heroes into "Huanglong" 30 years later, which will never be irrelevant to this experience. ...
During the period of191711,the teachers and students of the First Normal University, like the residents of Shacheng, were worried about an upcoming war disaster day and night.
The thing is this: the Beiyang military government sent Fu, a Beiyang warlord, to Hunan to suppress the movement to protect the people, and was defeated by Tan, a Guangxi army. Fu led the defeated troops to flee from Changsha and fled to Hubei, while Tan was still stationed in Hengshan and Xiangxiang, and failed to get to Changsha in time. As a result, Changsha has temporarily become an empty city, with only a small number of police to maintain order. At this moment, there was a sudden news that Fu, one of the HunChengLv of Beiyang Army, had heard that Fu had been defeated in Hubei and didn't want to fight any more, so he withdrew from Zhuzhou to Changsha along the Guangdong-Han Railway, and he had reached the Monkey Stone area not far from the First Normal School.
The news spread all over the first normal school in an instant. Nearly 1000 teachers and students in the school are completely in a state of tension and confusion. At the general meeting of all teachers and students, President Kong Zhaoshou reported to everyone that there was a danger of war in the southern suburbs, and all teachers and students in the school must get ready immediately and take refuge in Amilin, five miles east of the city, waiting for the order to start immediately.
After listening to Kong Zhaoshou's report on the enemy's situation, Mao Zedong did not leave the meeting immediately. He sat at the square table in the auditorium, holding his chin in his hand, frowning and meditating: in recent years, warlords have been fighting and wars have continued. The people of Huxiang suffered from military disasters, and so did the teachers and students of the First Normal University. It turns out that passive avoidance is never an option. As the saying goes, a monk who escapes can't escape from the temple, not to mention that 1000 teachers and students are hard to retreat, that is, everyone has evacuated, and the campus of the first division must be the first target of the rout. If so, wouldn't the school buildings, teaching equipment and books and materials that the school has worked so hard to build in recent years be destroyed at once? Thought of here, Mao Zedong felt that nothing he said this time could make the school suffer another military disaster, so he had to come up with a solution. Immediately, after analyzing the situation of both sides in detail, he formed a plan to protect the school and the city by relying on student volunteers.
So, Mao Zedong came to the principal's office and talked with Kong Zhaoshou about his ideas. Kong Zhaoshou asked uneasily, "Runzhi, can we resist thousands of routed troops with more than 200 student troops?" Mao Zedong analyzed: "When teachers and students leave the school, the school will be empty, and the defeated soldiers will definitely rob the school; On the contrary, it is safer to actively organize and defend the school than to leave the school to take refuge. Besides, why do these defeated soldiers just wander outside the city instead of going into the city? Because I don't know the situation in the city, I dare not make a move. If they panic and get tired and take the initiative to attack, they can drive them away! " After listening to Mao Zedong's opinion, Kong Zhaoshou did not immediately express his position, but reminded Mao Zedong: "Runzhi, this matter is related to the safety of teachers and students of the First Division 1000, and the responsibility is great!" Mao Zedong felt the weight of the burden on his shoulders from the headmaster's serious words. After a little reflection, he solemnly replied, "Don't worry, headmaster ..."
Then, Mao Zedong personally went to the vicinity of Monkey Stone to understand the real situation of the routed troops. After reconnaissance, he learned that these defeated soldiers had completely fallen into hunger and fatigue, and they didn't know the military situation in Changsha at all. They are as afraid of being hit again as frightened birds. They have lost their fighting capacity. It is entirely possible to organize forces to repel these routed troops. After careful consideration, he immediately returned to school and put forward an emergency plan to President Kong: organizing student volunteers, setting an ambush to intercept and defeat soldiers and collecting their guns.
After urgent consultation with Fang and other teachers, Kong Zhaoshou finally accepted his suggestion and authorized him to command the student volunteers. After Mao Zedong was appointed, he immediately made a decision with President Kong: send about 100 student volunteers with guns to prepare for departure; Urgently mobilize all teachers and students to move out of all desks, chairs and benches, block all the gates of the school, form multiple barriers, and prepare for the battle. Then, he took the official letter from the school to the Southern District Police Station to contact the police for unified action. In this way, all the teachers and students, the transferred student volunteers and some policemen were under the unified command of Mao Zedong, who became the commander-in-chief of the "three armed forces".
At dusk, Kong Zhaoshou and Mao Zedong led the armed student volunteers, carrying firecrackers and kerosene barrels, and divided them into three teams, lurking around several hills near Monkey Stone, forming a commanding encirclement of the defeated army; At the same time, let the police guard Miaofeng behind the school. At this time, the routed troops moved north in fear and tried to enter the city. Not far from the ambush area, the police and the student army shot at the top of the mountain together and set off firecrackers with kerosene barrels, shouting in unison: "Fu escaped and went to town. Don't kill! " At this moment, the guns "guns" sounded and the shouts were deafening, like a tribe sweeping over. The northern army is a frightened bird. After this sudden attack, the team collapsed in an instant, and the soldiers hid in Tibet and the defeat was like a mountain. About 3000 people surrendered on the spot. That night, the defeated soldiers camped in front of the first normal school, and the next day, they were sent back to the north by the Chamber of Commerce.
In this way, Changsha city escaped a military disaster. Mao Zedong's decisiveness and bravery outwitted the routed troops and was praised by all the teachers and students in the school. They all praised him as a "brave man". In recognition of Mao Zedong Superman's courage and extraordinary organization and command ability, Kong Zhaoshou promoted him to company commander. Mao Zedong himself was very satisfied with this military action. He felt that he had not only been trained and tested in actual combat, but also tasted the comfort of commanding soldiers, galloping freely and acting freely after strategizing, which made him have a preliminary interest in the art of war. After a long time, Mao Zedong also mentioned in the chat that he was "engaged in military affairs, which was the first time"!
After this experience, in 19 18, when the northern and southern warlords fought again, Zhang troops invaded Changsha, and Kong Zhaoshou once again authorized the organization of the "guard" and served as the team leader, responsible for guarding the school. In April this year, the war in eastern Hunan was still very tense, and Changsha was so jittery that residents even dared not sleep. Mao Zedong led the guards to patrol day and night, guarding the school closely, so that the school can still attend classes as usual. In order to commemorate this event, Kong Zhaoshou specially took a photo as a souvenir and wrote an inscription on this photo: "During the last period of May Day, the staff and students of our school kept singing string songs, and I hardly knew that there was a disaster in the army." This precious historical photo, as a witness of Mao Zedong leading student volunteers to defend the school, is still displayed in the "Comrade Mao Zedong Memorial Hall of Hunan First Normal University".
"Courage can accomplish great things." Kong Zhaoshou, who once studied abroad, is familiar with the famous conclusions of foreign celebrities. Perhaps from Mao Zedong, an ordinary student of the First Normal University, he got a glimpse of the extraordinary in the ordinary and the extraordinary in the ordinary; From the extraordinary wisdom and courage shown in Mao Zedong's student life, I look forward to the pillar of the "great cause" in the future. So, he personally recorded the details of Mao Zedong leading the student volunteers to defeat the army and organizing the "Guard" nursing school in the Journal of the First Normal University, together with two books written by Mao Zedong from 19 17 to 1965438. Thus, it provides rare historical materials for future generations to study the history of the First Normal University and Mao Zedong's study and life in the First Normal University and his participation in social activities, and also provides strong evidence for his good teacher-student relationship with Mao Zedong. 195 1 year, people found these precious materials in Kong Zhaoshou's long-lost home, so they dedicated them to the country. ...
Kong Zhaoshou's efforts to establish democratic education in the First Normal University, like a spring breeze, dispersed the lethargy of the First Normal University and made it full of vitality.
Division of labor has changed! She stood in front of the students with a brand-new style!
The four scarlet letters "Morality, Wisdom, Martial Arts and Beauty" are written at the school gate, which embodies the school's mission and presents a brand-new school to the world.
Of course, these are only superficial changes. The real deep-seated change is the rise of democratic education mentioned above. Under the leadership of Kong Zhaoshou, organizations and activities aimed at cultivating students' autonomous and automatic ability have emerged one after another: reorganizing alumni associations, setting up workers' night schools, creating student volunteers, holding sports meetings, forming trade unions, strengthening vocational training, and conducting study tours.
These organizations and activities fully reflected Kong Zhaoshou's desire to run a school and cultivate talents, and conformed to the historical development trend of China at that time. Since then, a large number of promising young people, especially Mao Zedong and Cai Hesen, have used the First Division as a training ground to save the country and the people, temper their strong will, sharpen their noble character, set up lofty ideals and cultivate outstanding talents. They began to participate in these beneficial organizations and activities in the early days, then joined the patriotic and revolutionary movements, embarked on the road of professional revolutionaries, and finally became the leaders or leading backbones of the people's liberation cause in China.
Especially Mao Zedong, this stage is of great significance to him. Kong Zhaoshou's two years as principal is a turning point in his life and the beginning of his brilliant life!
Practice has proved that Mao Zedong's experience in the First Division laid a comprehensive and solid foundation for his later revolutionary activities. During the period of 1936, when Mao Zedong was talking with American friend edgar snow in northern Shaanxi, he said, "Many things happened in my life in Hunan No.1 Normal School, and my political thoughts began to take shape during this period. Here, I also gained the initial experience of social activities. " 1949, when Mao Zedong met his old classmates in Beijing, he said, "I didn't go to college formally, nor did I study abroad. My knowledge and insight are the foundation laid in the first normal school. The first division is a good school. "