1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 159: Li Qiwei's Outline of Education Reform
When Li Qiwei revealed his ideals and ambitions with a pure heart, Yu Shimei was completely convinced.

He has nothing but admiration and support for such talented young Han people.

If all the young people in China could be like Li Qiwei, there would be no doubt that China could not revive and restore the glory of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Yu Shimei solemnly took the paper from Li Qiwei and began to read it carefully.

Since it is to be presented to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, there are naturally many language restrictions and requirements.

Li Qiwei studied abroad and certainly knows nothing about this.

He needs to screen the other party, especially those radical views, which must be deleted completely.

Moreover, the content that reaches the emperor must be concise and clear, and cannot be long and boring, which makes the performer seem too low in level.

As Yu Shimei continued to go deeper, his expression gradually relaxed and he felt very satisfied.

The entire reform outline is well-documented, with real data from Western countries annotated by Li Qiwei in key places, which makes people unable to help but believe it.

To summarize Li Qiwei's education reform outline, there are five core points.

1. Rename the existing professional terms in the education field and change it to an education system similar to that of the West to facilitate future integration with the international community.

Li Qiwei believes that the purpose of education is to popularize it among the masses. If many names are made extremely complicated, ordinary people will not be able to understand them.

For example, there are so many primary schools and higher schools that it’s dizzying.

Therefore, he proposed various amendments to the outline:

【University Hall: University;
Middle school: middle school;

Primary school: primary school;

Elementary school: elementary school. 】

【General Supervisor: Principal;

teach: teach;
Science: Science. 】

Wait, there's more.

Moreover, he also added many new terms to facilitate systematic assessment and management of schools.

Li Qiwei basically copied the set of titles used in later generations.

After the revision, the professionalism in the field of education will be better highlighted.

2. Modify the school system division in the "Imperial School Regulations" to:

Elementary school (four years), primary school (six years), middle school (six years), and university (four years). The levels are divided by grades within a single school system.

It is stipulated that all children over the age of 6 can enter the first grade of primary school.

Admission to primary schools depends on the local education and economic development level, and the state does not have a unified management responsibility.

3. Li Qiwei believes that what the country needs most at present is university education, and what university education needs most is science education.

Only when science develops well can we produce a large number of mathematical and scientific talents and complete the development and application of various factories and machines.

This will enhance domestic industrial production capacity and get rid of dependence on imports from Western countries.

He cited the example of science in the UK, which even has a direct connection with factories.

When a school invents a technology, it will let factories produce it in batches, thereby improving national strength.

It is basically the integration of industry, academia and research in later generations.

Therefore, Li Qiwei suggested in the outline that the top priority in the country now is to establish science universities.

To this end, he suggested that a pilot program could be implemented in Guangdong first, and gave a specific plan:

Guangdong University was established, offering science majors such as physics, chemistry, civil engineering, metallurgy, and geology.

For other majors, the procedures will continue as usual.

Li Qiwei also has to consider leaving some opportunities for others, otherwise it will easily arouse resentment, be attacked by the crowd and fail to get support.

Anyway, the so-called Guangdong University was not established with his own money, but in the name of the Qing court.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend the Qing Dynasty's money to train science and engineering talents for yourself?

Because he knew that the Qing Dynasty would not immediately agree to his plan in its entirety, he proposed the so-called pilot project to confuse the other party.

In real history, in 1910, the Imperial University of Peking began to divide its disciplines, offering a total of seven departments: economics, law and politics, liberal arts, science, agriculture, engineering, and commerce.

And there are thirteen disciplines (majors).

Classics: Book of Songs, Rites of Zhou, Zuo Zhuan;
Law and Politics: Politics and law;
Liberal Arts: Chinese Literature, Chinese History;
Science: Geology, Chemistry

Agricultural science: Agronomy

Engineering: Civil Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy

Business: Banking and Insurance.

In 1903, the concept of specialization had actually already existed, but it had not yet been formally determined.

The polytechnic university that Li Qiwei wants to build has a more detailed division of majors, but there is no need to bring it up for the time being. 4. It is recommended that private individuals can set up private universities at their own expense to solve the problem of insufficient government funding.

This is also where Li Qiwei grasped the Qing Dynasty's Achilles' heel.

The Qing Dynasty was now facing internal and external troubles, and the treasury was insufficient. How could it possibly allocate too much funds to the education sector?

But it is in urgent need of new talents and has no choice but to rely on private universities.

The students trained by the rich paid for their own education ended up serving the Qing Dynasty.

Cixi was not stupid. This kind of good thing would bring her only benefits and no disadvantages no matter how you looked at it.

As for whether private universities will get out of control and spread some bad ideas.

The old witch didn't care at all. She felt that a group of stinky teachers dared to rebel.

At that time, as long as the supervisory personnel are sent to investigate, they will be able to find out. Anyone who disobeys will be arrested or even executed directly.

In dealing with foreign countries, Cixi was submissive and dared not say a word; in dealing with domestic affairs, Cixi was arrogant and complacent, and attacked with heavy blows.

Therefore, Li Qiwei concluded that the Qing Dynasty would definitely agree to this.

By then, I can start my own university.

He Yujie and the other two will also say goodbye to their vacation and start getting busy for university.

5. Li Qiwei suggested that the court establish a Ministry of Education to specifically manage all schools and related affairs across the country.

Improving the independence of education is more conducive to the cultivation of talents.

To this end, he still used universities in the UK and Germany as examples to prove the benefits of academic independence.

And different improvements are made to the education departments of each province, with detailed rules attached.

This one will surely get support from many people.

At least Yu Shimei smiled slightly after seeing it.

If a school department is established, their status will also rise.

Moreover, the department has its own system and outsiders cannot interfere at all.

From now on, even if you are the son of a minister and want to go to Guangdong University, you have to ask for my permission.

The above is the main content of Li Qiwei’s education reform outline.

Education is a huge system, and Li Qiwei can only give a rough outline of it at present.

More detailed content needs to be continuously improved and perfected in specific practice.

However, this plan, which seemed very simple in Li Qiwei's eyes, was completely different in Yu Shimei's eyes.

As a traditional official, he had never seen the format of Li Qiwei's memorial.

There is not a single word of nonsense in the whole article, it is all about explaining the author's own thoughts and specific implementation methods.

Compared with those 800-word memorials to the court, 600 words of which were flattering the emperor, there is a world of difference.

At this moment, Yu Shimei no longer had any doubts about Li Qiwei's ability.

It would probably be difficult to find another person in the entire Qing Dynasty who could write such an outline.

The key is that none of the other party’s ideas are his own, but are based on personal experience and reference to various education systems in Europe and the United States.

The various data contained therein are irrefutable.

Yu Shimei could even imagine that when this outline was submitted, the opposition would be dumbfounded.

Because they simply couldn't find any loopholes to fight back.

"Qiwei, I already thought highly of you, but I didn't expect that I still underestimated you."

"Based on what you have in your hands, I'm afraid you are being wasted as a deputy minister of education."

"The current Minister of Education can nominally control the schools in each province, but in reality he can only manage the Imperial University."

"I'm worried that you will have to face many difficulties in the future."

Li Qiwei didn't care. He smiled and said, "Everything is difficult at the beginning."

"As long as I am dedicated to China, I will always be able to attract more like-minded people."

"Look, haven't I pulled you, Xuetai, into my camp now?"

Yu Shimei laughed. "Qiwei, Qiwei, since you have this mouth, I won't worry about you anymore."

"You are still a British knight anyway. No matter how much the people in the court oppose and impeach you, it will not have much impact on you."

"According to your proposal, at worst you can start your own university."

"When I get tired of being the academician, I'll go to you and seek refuge. You have to reserve a position for me as the principal."

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Don't worry, my door is always open for you."

(End of this chapter)