society- Changes in education Flashcards
(30 cards)
Describe Mao’s perspective on educational inequality in China.
Mao viewed educational reform as a key priority, expressing concern over the inequality of educational opportunity, particularly for peasants who had little to no access to education, which he believed was predominantly reserved for landlords.
Explain the types of education preferred by peasants during Mao’s era.
Peasants preferred ‘old style schooling’ that taught Confucian morals, as opposed to the ‘foreign style schools’ that were criticized by the regime and did not meet the needs of workers and peasants.
How did educational policy in China change between 1949 and 1965?
Educational policy fluctuated between attempts to replicate successful reforms from communist-held areas during the Civil War, addressing economic production needs, and adapting to varying levels of commitment to the Soviet model.
What impact did the Cultural Revolution have on education in China?
After 1965, the Cultural Revolution caused significant chaos in the education system, disrupting educational practices and policies.
Define the role of education in Mao’s vision for transforming China.
Education was seen as a crucial tool for the regime to transform China into a communist nation, aiming to reshape societal values and promote communist ideology.
Discuss the educational legacy inherited by the communist regime after the Civil War.
The communist regime inherited very low educational levels from the nationalists, which posed a significant challenge in their efforts to address educational inequalities.
What was the general sentiment towards modern schools during Mao’s time?
Modern schools were viewed negatively by the regime and the peasants, as they were labeled ‘foreign style schools’ that did not cater to the needs of the working class.
Evaluate the progress made in educational reforms during Mao’s regime.
While the regime did achieve some progress in educational reforms, the extent to which the Chinese people benefited from these changes remains a topic of historical debate.
Describe the literacy rates among males and females over seven years of age in rural China according to a contemporary study.
Only 30% of males and just 1% of females over seven years of age could read a simple letter.
Explain the educational attainment of males and females in rural China as reported in the study.
45.2% of males and only 2.2% of females had received any schooling.
How many years of schooling did males and females receive on average in rural China?
Males attended on average four years of schooling, while females who received schooling attended for three years.
Define the traditional education style prevalent in rural China and its focus.
The traditional education style focused on fundamental Confucian concepts of morality and filial piety, using classical works since AD400 to prepare students for imperial examinations.
Discuss the subjects that were typically excluded from the education system in rural China.
Practical subjects required by a modern economy, such as arithmetic and science, were not included in the education system.
Explain the impact of the abolition of imperial examinations on education in rural China.
Although the imperial examinations were abolished in 1905, modern schools with Western-style curricula were few and primarily located in cities, maintaining an elitist system.
Describe the distribution of higher education fields of study in rural China.
Over 59% of students in higher education studied law, politics, or the liberal arts, while only 10% studied natural science, 11.5% engineering, and 3% agriculture.
What was the predominant pedagogical approach in rural China’s education system, and how was it viewed by Mao?
The pedagogy was based on rote learning from books, which Mao openly dismissed, stating that only a small part of his progress was achieved through books.
Describe the impact of Mao’s educational policies on literacy rates in China from 1949 to 1976.
Mao’s educational policies led to a significant increase in literacy rates in China, rising from 20% in 1949 to 70% by 1976.
Explain the purpose of Pinyin in Mao’s educational reforms.
Pinyin was introduced as a phonetic form of Mandarin to facilitate communication and writing, making it easier for people to learn Mandarin.
Define the unofficial barriers to education equality during Mao’s regime.
Despite official claims of free education for both genders, parents often had to pay for supplies and contribute to teachers’ salaries, leading to higher dropout rates for girls.
How did the Cultural Revolution affect education in China?
The Cultural Revolution led to the rejection of education by the Red Guards, resulting in 130 million students leaving school and viewing learning as ‘bourgeois and reactionary’.
Do the statistics from 1982 reflect the state of higher education in China?
Yes, a 1982 survey revealed that only 25% of the working population had attended school beyond age 12, and just 1% held a degree, indicating a lack of emphasis on higher education.
What were the key educational reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping?
Deng Xiaoping introduced four key reforms: university entry exams, encouragement of private universities, and promoting Chinese students to study in the capitalist West.
Discuss the consequences of excessive study among students during Mao’s era.
The excessive study led to the deaths of seven of Mao’s fellow students in 1917, highlighting the dangers of overwork in the educational system.
Identify the challenges faced by higher education during Mao’s leadership.
Higher education was largely despised, with a low percentage of the population receiving education beyond age 12, and even fewer among party leaders having advanced degrees.
