21世紀價值教育

Educational Values for the 21st Century?

這篇論文是以英國最近及當前的措施來定義以及詮釋英國教育的核心價值，這些教育的核心價值與社會、文化、政治有關。從歷史的觀點，這些教育的核心價值透過很多不同的方法予以驗證，也可能被改變或重新定義。和20世紀初英國傳統教育相關的教育價值漸漸被認為不符合21世紀的需求，即使那些傳統教育理念仍持續地發揮潛在的影響力。1950年代之後，強調考試以及高標準的價值體系被凸顯出來，推廣機會平等的社會思潮隨之而來。21世紀初，創新的價值出現後，似乎在某些程度上重新塑造先前的理想，但也挑戰了當代教育價值的表現。這裡提出三個當前創新的教育價值加以思考：第一，教育是為了追求幸福的思潮；第二，強調品格教育；第三，注重國家的基本價值。最後，我們想問這些核心價值是否真的能夠鞏固21世紀的教育。

This paper considers recent and current initiatives to define and promote the core values of education in the case of the United Kingdom. Such values have social, cultural and political connotations, are contested in a range of ways, and may change and be reinterpreted historically, over time. The values that were associated with an 'English tradition' of education in the early twentieth century have widely come to be seen as irrelevant to the needs of the 21st century, although they continue to exert an underlying influence. A value system that has emphasised examination success and higher standards has been prominent since the 1950s, alongside an ethos that has sought to promote equality of opportunity for all. In the early years of the 21st century, new initiatives have arisen that to some extent reshape earlier ideals, but also tend to challenge their contemporary manifestations. Three of these are considered here. The first is a movement in favour of education for 'happiness'. The second is an emphasis on education for 'character'. Third is a focus on supposedly fundamental 'national' values. Finally, we ask whether these are the core educational values that will underpin education in the 21st century.