Comparison of Sino—US Moral Education in Primary and Secondary School

王清　曾思思

【Abstract】This paper argues moral education similarities and differences of primary and secondary schools between China and the United States.

【Key words】Chinese moral education； the US moral education； moral education comparison

1.Comparison of Sino-US Moral Education in Primary and Secondary Schools Target

Primary school moral education target is to cultivate students with preliminary thoughts of The Five Loves and good moral character.The United States moral education focused on students individuality.

1.1Analysis of the Similarities.Both countries cultivate the citizen who meets the requirements of the existing system and the social norms.The United States goal of the moral education put forward different requirements for different age groups.The goal moral education in our country has the essential requirements and high requests.The United States always pursuit personal development，individual freedom，self-improvement，being embodied in the moral education goals.

1.2 Analysis of the Differences.In the United States Moral education emphasizes the equivalence between the moral target and the citizen target.Chinese moral education target make the collectivism as the core.China focus on country at first and the second is collective，personal value in the end.Opposite to China，the United States embodies the concept of people-oriented.

In the United States，moral education target have strong levels，China has a hierarchy but should be subdivided，and China should focus on two aspects of “must do” and “resolute opposition”.

Moral education thought in the United States stressed the cultivation and development of personality.Chinese moral education concept is completely different from the United States.China emphasizes on national interests and collective interests.

2.Comparison of Sino-US Contents of Moral Education in Primary and Secondary Schools

2.1 Analysis of the Similarities.Moral education in China and the United States have paid attention to cultivate the basic moral quality，and the social norms and behaviors is passed to the student under the historical precipitation.

China has always put the correct political direction on the moral education in the first place，and the United States is cultivating “Spirit of the United States” of the students.

In China schools are built with patriotism base，and the United States pays great attention to moral education of tacit social environment.

2.2 Analysis of the Differences.Moral education in China has developed a long-term goal.In the United States，due to the decentralization of education，the moral education is lack of long-term planning.Moral education in China emphasizes collectivism as the core，paying attention to inner moral concept transformation.The United States tends to highlight the status of the personal moral standards and individual freedom.

In China，the collectivism is the principle for citizen moral construction.The United States says that the collectivism is the realization of personal interest through collective strength.

3.Comparison of Sino-US of Moral Education Teaching Methods

3.1 Analysis of the Similarities.Sino-US moral education teaching through the form of classroom moral education，including the explicit curriculum and the hidden curriculum.China and United States pay attention to shape and guide the students to cultivate their own political needs of moral character and habits.

The curriculum in different grades and different ages has different content，paying attention to the continuity of the curriculum.

3.2 Analysis of the Differences.Chinese uses more reasoning and indoctrination education methods，while the United States is teaching through the specific forms of the penetrative education method.In China，the moral class teaching emphasizes on the teachers dominant position.Diversifications of education in the United States focus on the establishment of the classroom democratic atmosphere，and fully mobilization the initiative of students.

Various theories of moral education exist in the United States，not only paying attention to the basic principles of the proposed，but also thinking highly of the education design process.

4.Enlightenment

We should not only stick to Chinese characteristics at the same time，but also constantly absorb the strength of the United States moral education methods to make up for our own deficiencies，and then we will do much better in our moral education work.

References：

[1]Severson R.（1998） The Principle of Information Ethics[M].New York： M.E.Shape.

[2]班華，薛曉陽.新時期我國德育模式研究的理論特征[J].北京：北京大學教育評論，2004，（5）： 45-46.