김마리아(1892-1944)의 교육관 ― 실력양성론 형성과 구체화를 중심으로 ―

Abstract

Kim Maria was a “female Korean independence activist” who devoted her whole life for the independence of Korea. She said that “I married with the independence of Korea” with confidence. To understand activities of Kim Maria who sought the ways for independence and put into practice in her whole life, this study aims at investigating traces of forming, changing and developing her theory for fostering capacity as the way for national salvation in her life. When she was young, Kim Maria grew up in the family who felt responsible for local community and in open home environment accepting Christianity. She expanded her responsibility to country and people as Japan invaded was realized. In her teens, she studied at Chungshin Girls’ School which cultivated the Christian education and the spirit of independence she met fighters for independence at “Kim Brothers Store” which was managed by her uncles, Kim Yuno and Kim Pilsoon. She also cured soldiers who were wounded in the protest against the dissolution of Korean Army in 1907 in Severance Hospital. Through these experiences, she decided to devote her life for Korean independence. During studying in Japan, she set up her resolute idea on the necessity of the education for women. She thought that education was essential to become “human” and women must be educated to be appropriate and helpful in Korea and committed to society. For Korean independence, she returned to Korea with the statement of the February 8th Independence Declaration and contributed to plan the March 1st Movement. However, she witnessed failures of the March 1st Movement and Korean Patriotic Women's Society in Korea and the division of Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai. She realized that fostering capacity could be base for independence and went study abroad to the United States of America. When she started her study in the U.S., she already decided to devote herself to Korean education and contribute to the independence and development of Korea. In the U.S., She strengthened her capacity by studying in Park University, Chicago University, Graduate School of Education in Columbia University and New York Theological Seminary. Through these studying and other experiences in the U.S., she developed her theory for fostering capacity to the stage that a individual citizen must effort to have his own leadership, choose leader and cooperate for the success of activities of that leader. She thought that a individual citizen must be the pivot of society. In her theory of fostering capacity, she had particular attention to the education for women. She had consciousness about the situation that a man was in center and a woman was excluded or in only auxiliary role. She thought that a woman was designated to be a “human” who can live freely. Her purpose of education for women was that a woman must go into the scene of missions of times equally with a man and stand as the independent subject of her own life and of the independence and development of her homeland. It meant that a woman must be the subject of independence beyond the auxiliary role. Kim Maria’s theory for fostering capacity was formed, changed and developed by her growth and having various experiences. The purpose of fostering capacity was not limited to the independence and expanded to the process of national development after independence. Her emphasis on education for women was not for only the liberation of women. She thought that men and women together must participate in the independence and development of nation. She did not leave her theory as only theory. After returning to Korea, she practiced her theory in teaching in Martha Wilson Seminary for Women and cultivated the spirit of independence.