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Rousseau proposed the theory of natural education

Rousseau's natural education thoughts have great implications for the reform and direction of children's education in our country.

1. Respect children’s nature and give them freedom

Although children are not adults, they are not adults’ playthings and can be commanded by adults. A child is first of all a "person" with his own consciousness and emotions. Rousseau called for the protection of children's innocent nature and the full development of children's personalities. He said: "Children have their own unique views, thoughts and feelings; it is simply the stupidest thing to try to replace their views, thoughts and feelings with our own." Rousseau's views on children's education are of reference significance both then and now. Nowadays, many parents have placed too high expectations on their children and enroll their children in various interest classes and tutoring classes. This kind of deliberate and untimely training of children often obliterates the children's inner hobbies and sacrifices the children's time for self-discovery and self-exploration. Under such education, under reluctance and great pressure, children will only be overwhelmed, passively accept the content they have learned, become tired of learning, and eventually become victims of education. Therefore, we should respect the nature of children, teach children in accordance with their aptitude according to the natural rhythm of their physical and mental growth and the different situations of each student, give children space for free development, carefully observe their interests in this space, and then give them appropriate guidance. .

2. Correct the purpose of education to cultivate harmoniously developed people

As far as the purpose of education is concerned, today’s children’s education in our country has the characteristics of extreme and utilitarian educational purposes. It has become a lifelong goal for parents and children, and the goals and content of children's lives have also been narrowed to reading. All education that has nothing to do with examinations has been despised. Some parents even use money and other temptations to reward their children for studying. Reading has lost its own purpose. Once the goal of entering higher education is achieved, children will not know what the goal and meaning of the next step in life is. Students trained in this way are often unable to adapt to the ever-changing society and survive well in society. This kind of utilitarian education is completely opposite to Rousseau's natural education and violates the laws of nature. The liberal education advocated by Rousseau is to enable children to learn the means of making a living and not be enslaved by powerful people, interests, etc., and everyone can be free and at ease. Enjoy the rights given by nature. Therefore, children's education should pay attention to the present of children. Childhood is a very valuable period in a person's entire life. This period directly affects a person's future learning, life and world view. Parents, schools and society must not ignore the process of children's development and focus one-sidedly on the results of education. Children should be constantly guided to correctly understand themselves and their various connections with nature and society in free education, and develop children's basic abilities, especially focusing on the cultivation of children's sensory abilities and survival abilities, so that they can become a child. A person who is able to freely control his physical strength and will, has independent thinking and rational judgment when facing society, is in line with his nature, and develops harmoniously in body and mind.

3. Select appropriate teaching content and methods based on children’s physical and mental characteristics

Rousseau believed that children should not be educated on knowledge and morality at this stage before they are 12 years old, but should only Give them sensory training. He believes that before the age of 12, children's rationality is still in a dormant stage. Therefore, children did not have the ability to make rational judgments before. Only by treating children according to their age characteristics and thinking characteristics can we have a good educational impact. After all, children are children, they have their own unique thoughts and feelings, and we sometimes cannot understand their thoughts. Therefore, when we tell them what we think is the truth, they may be filled with many absurdities and fallacies instead of the truth. All Rousseau advocates the "natural consequences method" - that is, allowing children to understand the meaning of surrounding things, activities and activity results through personal experience. At present, many parents often use severe punishment to treat their children when their positive education is ineffective. This kind of education method can easily increase children's rebellious psychology and fail to achieve the educational effect. When it comes to educating their children, parents should think more about their children's way of thinking and psychological characteristics, and educate them equally based on their children's way of thinking, which will achieve twice the result with half the effort. Although some of Rousseau's educational views may seem unscientific in today's society, Rousseau's educational thoughts have given great enlightenment to the problems that arise in today's children's education. Regarding the education of children, our parents, schools and society should insist on scientifically developing curriculum and teaching content suitable for each age stage of children based on the development characteristics of children's body and mind, and should focus on the harmonious development of children's body and mind. development, rather than adopting a utilitarian approach to education that “reinforces growth”.

In addition, Rousseau attached great importance to increasing children's practical experience through activities and sensory stimulation during their childhood. He strongly advocates that children get close to nature and learn in changing environments and activities. Feel the changes in the world. Only by developing and growing amidst changes can we better adapt to a complex and ever-changing society. In the process of educating children, Rousseau also attached great importance to the methods of "intuitive teaching" and "activity teaching". This can stimulate children's attention and interest, and is suitable for children's age characteristics, which is of great reference value.

A large number of our current children have been locked up at home for a long time, or in schools, and their living scope is narrow. The main source of learning also comes from books. The large amount of knowledge described in books is sometimes boring and rigid, and it is difficult to convert it into their own ideas. Children lack personal experience of the world. Therefore, it is very necessary to properly let them go to nature to capture the knowledge they lack. Let them return to nature and learn in activities, which adapts to the child's nature and physical and mental characteristics, and also allows them to gain a lot and facilitate their understanding. knowledge and apply it to life practice. It laid a solid foundation for future education.

Although Rousseau's natural education thought has certain petty bourgeois characteristics and social limitations, his educational theory still has practical value. His understanding of children is also worthy of our reference. We should pay more attention to children's nature, respect them, and allow children to develop more freely and happily.