升學主義的成因及其社會心理基礎－－一個歷史觀察

The Reason and Myth of Education Fanaticism: A Historical Review

在一般的用法中，「升學主義」四字常用來指稱一種源於傳統「士大夫觀念」的「不理性觀念」。許多人相信，透過文化的浸潤，這個古老的觀念在今天的民主社會裡，猶自擁有強大的影響力。本研究的主要目標即在於，追索這個文化根源，探討它的成因與現實意義，然後，以古喻今，以便釐清當代的「升學主義」真相。使用的方法則是：史料的分析（包括正史、私人著述、筆記等）、古今的對照，以及東西的比較。歷史的考察顯示，至少就宋、明、清等朝代來說，「敗壞人才」與「敗壞學校」的「升學主義現象」確實存在。而其成因則是，士人入學與升學的動機不在學問與道德，而在於現實利益。此即古代的「升學主義」。然而，歷史的考察也顯示，至少到了明清兩代仕紳階級興起之後，所謂的「士大夫觀念」，其實是仕紳階級的「階級意識」，充滿了仕紳階級的色彩。因此，今天它應該已隨仕紳階級的消失，而無所附麗，遺下來的不過是，「相應於社會地位、政治實力與經濟實力而有的，對讀書人極高的社會評價。」因此，要說今天的社會尚有所謂的「士大夫觀念」，只怕大有商榷的餘地。另一方面，本研究也比較了東西方對於「升學主義現象」的看法。要言之，西方的學者相信，社會大眾對學歷的熱衷，實由於學歷具有人身評價上的指標意義。本文從這點出發，分析學歷的各種「現實意義」與「指標意義」，發現學歷事實上對個人的一生，有極大的影響。從這點看來，追求升學，其實只是人性的表現，未必與文化中的「不理性觀念」有直接的關係。因此，用「升學主義」去解釋今天的「升學主義現象」，不但可能無益於了解事實真相，而且可能有礙於問題的真正解決。

Traditionally, people who showed overenthusiasm in pursuing higher education were thought to have scholar-official envy, considered irrational, and given the label education fanatic. Overemphasis on education is still common in modern Chinese societies. The cultural origins of this attitude are explored in this study to clarify the contributing factors and practical significance through content analysis of historical materials. Scholar-official envy existed in the Sung, Ming, and Ching Dynasties and brought about the corruption of intellectuals and schools because intellectuals studied in pursuit of fame and wealth, not for truth and morality. In modern times, scholar-official envy can be equated with social class consciousness and obsession with the corresponding practical benefits for intellectuals. Western scholars explain the phenomenon by pointing out the significance of the diploma. This perspective completely matches the situation in modern Taiwan where the diploma plays an important role in influencing a person's career and life. Together with the above historical review, it may be safely concluded that education fanaticism may possibly reflect human nature rather than culture. And, diplomaism may be a rational rather than an irrational choice, better understood as a social phenomenon than as a cultural heritage.