杜威和桑代克教育科学观之争

杜威和桑代克的教育科学观存在着严重的分歧。回顾杜威和桑代克教育科学观的内容、个人实践与影响,可以发现,两位教育思想巨人的教育科学观争论主要集中在三个方面:第一,在对于实验学校的态度上,杜威认为实验学校是教育科学研究的重要组成部分,而桑代克则认为教育测量与统计才是教育科学的中心,实验学校是可有可无的一部分。这一事实反映了二人对于教育科学本质的不同认识,杜威认为教育科学乃是服务于教育实践的规范科学,而桑代克则认为教育科学是进行教育理论生产的实证科学;第二,在教育研究中对于民主理念的理解上,杜威反对一切形式化的等级结构,而桑代克则认为教育研究中的等级结构是教育学科制度化的必要手段;第三,在教育研究的范式选择上,杜威希望将教育学打造成一门标准的学术科系,一种体现自由学科精神的“复数教育学”。而桑代克则是实证主义研究取向的代表。他主张由大学专业学院中真正的科学家来主导教育知识的生产,并由这些职业科学家建立一种“单数教育学”。

The Debate between Dewey and Thorndike In View of Educational Sciences

Dewey and Thorndike's views on educational sciences have remarkable differences.Reviewing the content,personal practice and influence of their views,we find that the debate of these two giants mainly focuses on three aspects:First,in terms of the attitude towards experimental schools,Dewey believes that experimental schools are an important part of educational science research,while Thorndike believes that educational measurement and statistics are the center of educational science,while experimental schools were an optional part.This difference reflects their different understanding of the essence of educational science.Dewey holds that educational science is a normative science serving educational practice,while Thorndike holds that educational science is a positive science producing educational theories.Secondly,in the understanding of the democratic idea in educational research,Dewey opposes all formalized hierarchical structure,while Thorndike believes that the hierarchical structure in educational research is a necessary means for the institutionalization of educational discipline.Thirdly,in the choice of educational research paradigm,Dewey hopes to build pedagogy into a standard academic department,that is,an"educational science"reflecting the spirit of free discipline.However,Thorndike is the representative of positivism,who advocates that the production of educational knowledge should be led by real scientists in the professional colleges and universities,and that an"educational science"should be established by these professional scientists.