退溪의 子女敎育論 : 寄安道孫을 中心으로

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate Toe-Gye’s View of the offspring education. Specially, this subject deals with the letters to his grandson An-Do. We have had a fixed idea about Toe-Gye until now. But in this paper I will consider Toe-Gye as ordinary people like us and parents who bring up offsprings. The conclusions of Toe-Gye’s View of the offspring education are as follows. Toe-Gye’s educational objectives of offspring education are First, cultivating sincere Sun-bi(􂻓, a learned man or a worthy scholar). Sun-bi was the social leading elite in Cho-Sun Dynasty. But he was not called Sun-bi because he was Yang-Ban(􃏳􂯺, the upper hierarchy in Cho- Sun). He have had deep academic insights and virtuous behavior. Second, cultivating human dignity. When people face each other, they should treat other people with respect regardless of appearance, intelligence, or wealth. It has common parts with the respect for life and philanthropism. Toe-Gye’s educational methods of offspring education are First, the basis of making friends is in learning(􃤎􂭎􄔯􃜂). There are many phrases in his letter that persuade his grandson to attend study meeting, and he also urged his students to go to a study session. Second, teachers and students should develop each other(敎􄋚􂾗􃨦). The position of teachers and students is not eternal and fixed, it can be changed according to circumstances. It is not a one-way downward transmission but extending the range of learning through two-way interaction. Third, education centered on a daily life. The true knowledge should not exist theoretically in the thinking, the completion of learning to be in the real life instead of the closed space or a book. Toe-Gye’s View of the offspring education suggests many things to our educational field as follows. First, lifelong education. Human is the existence that pursues learning from birth to death. Therefore parents have to reflect their own life experience to their children every moment. Second, education by grandparents(隔􂚷敎􃡬). Grandparents should teach their grandchildren. Parents desire many things from their children. If we could transfer the education for children to our grandparents, we could solve not only the problems of old people and collapse of home at the same time but also our filial duty. Third, people-oriented educational objectives. Educational process which is not affiliated with study but emphasized on conversation will make a great contribution to people-oriented education that can take a mutual understanding into consideration.