The decree for the first time emphasized the importance of public education aimed at educating the people of the nation instead of a talented few. In consequence, the last decade of the Qing dynasty witnessed a rapid expansion and growth of primary schools, middle schools, and colleges at various regional levels. The system of public education was gradually taking shape. Nevertheless, although the new public educational system achieved a high degree of sophistication in theory and in practice, traditional education in the first modern educational system was not completely discarded. In fact, as revealed in the studies of Borthwick (1983) and Bastid (1988), there arose a protest aimed at preserving the ancient classics, and the classics still …show more content…
Both Gao and Chen had pursued study in Japan. The book was endorsed by Yuan Shikai and issued by the Board of Education of the province of Zhili. It was distributed among the students of the province, and one hundred thousand copies were printed in the first edition (Peake, 1970, p. 57). In the first chapter, the authors discussed the relationship between the nation and the people. They criticized people’s apathy toward the nation’s affairs and asserted that the nation and the people were one and inseparable. The second chapter focused on the duty of the nation and the people. It stated that the nation should give its people their benefits; in return, the people should be willing to sacrifice their lives when the nation was in danger. The third chapter conveyed the idea that the protection of the nation implied the protection of the people. The fourth chapter emphasized education as a means to build a strong nation. Using the examples of Prussia and Japan, the authors argued: “China’s greatest need at the present time is education; once the people become intelligent they will with united hearts give themselves to the help of their country, and the state will then become strong” (Gao & Chen, 1906, p. 79). The next three chapters were devoted to the promotion of public education and military training. The authors used the examples of militaristic Japan and peace-loving America to urge China to revive military spirit and pursue “armed peace” so as to gain its proper place among the nations. The eighth chapter grieved for China’s weakness. The following three chapters discussed the strength of other nations. The final chapter concluded with four methods as to how the Chinese people could save their country. First, eliminating social and official