昨夜發生在牛津大學公園

旁教育研究係裏的一場論戰

 

 

才從泳池上跳上來,坐在一杯ESPRESSO旁,想把昨夜經曆的一場SEMINAR記錄下來.因為我覺得它很有意思.同時我越來越不相信日久彌新這一說.它發生在昨晚自己的係裏.晚5點整屋子裏人就座滿了.我隻得偏居前排一隅.新係主任坐在我左後方,老係主任RICHARD在我前麵開始主持SEMINAR.主講人來自SHEFFIELDUNIVERSITY也是搞教育的,而且或許搞到了相當的位置和規模.也曾經做過教育係的頭.據老係主任RICHARD 介紹,此人的著作也是傳播廣泛很有影響.

 

觀眾們在這位矮胖的小老頭輕咳兩聲後停止了寒喧.他們抬起了有所期待的頭.是的,有什麽能像今天的SEMIANR 題目更能激發出人的興趣呢?教育不需要理論.EDUCATION WITHOUT THEORY.你可要知道,聽著這題目就夠嚇人的.好像是來到我們係宣布所有的教授和講師們你們都被解雇了,現在可以回家含飴弄孫了.牛津100 多年的教育研究曆史難道要被這小老頭的幾口唾沫淹掉不成.雖來者不善,但底下這些來參加的人沒準也是磨刀霍霍.

 

原子彈終於被不緊不慢地引著了.小老頭開始了20分鍾圍繞他的那篇登在我們係網站上的文章的陳述(可惜到現在我也沒找到).他侃侃而談語調沒有太多特殊的地方,話題涉及教育研究的曆史,教育理論的起源,教育研究哲學,為什麽我們不需要教育理論,以及現在我們應該給教育理論一個dignified end.20分鍾很快在他單調的陳述中過去.聽眾在幽默的老係主任的主持下開始提問.與其說是提問不如說是炮彈,刺刀和匕首.第一個炮彈由我們係裏素以談話犀利著稱的研究數學教育的女副教授發問.她首先從科學的理論的必要性和重要性講起,人們之間,人與自然之間都需要一種夠解釋之間聯係的理論.如果什麽都不要了我們沒必要在這個係搞教育研究,我們都去酒吧裏去得了.接下來一個文問題比一個尖銳,尤其是新係主任的問題問完後,整個會場有點演變成大批鬥的性質了,但還好,那個小胖教授老頭還在負隅頑抗但感覺他確實對有些問題不耐煩和沉不住氣了.後來會場達到了譏諷的地步,新係主任甚至小聲地喊出了,你的主張隻存在於你們的SHEFFILD UNIVERSITY,大有滾出牛津滾回SHEFFIELD 的意味.一個半小時的論戰似乎還是硝煙未散.經過頗有外交家風度的老主任的調停.論辯停止於HIGH(老係主任語).原子彈最終成了啞彈.我急忙從精神晚宴衝回物質晚宴.撤離中聽到一女子向一男子表達謝意說這個SEMINAR 太有意思了,謝謝他的推薦.

 

英國人喜歡辯論,上到政治家下到參與電視和廣播節目的平民百姓,辯論在大學裏更是無處不在,尤其是在有800年曆史的牛津.昨晚他們辯得我嗓子也刺撓了卡了幾個問題.但我最終沒有將自己的問題吐出來.究其原因有一下幾點,第一點,我的語言和我的思維遊離,第二點我怯場.第三點我有中華民族緊張眼慢張嘴的優良傳統 第三點我扮演大智慧不屑於他們談的雞毛蒜皮.

 

我像喜歡喝咖啡那樣開始喜歡上聽辯論了,沒準哪天我就能參與進去.

 

附活動宣傳: Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain

 

(Oxford Branch)

 

Education without Theory

 

Professor Wilf Carr

University of Sheffield

 

5 P.M. TUESDAY 31^st  JANUARY 2006

 

Teaching Room I, top floor, No. 15 Norham Gardens, Oxford, OX2 6PY

 

 

Professor Carr will be giving a trenchant critique of educational theory.  He concludes that such theory has run its course and should now be brought to a dignified end.   This is disturbing news for all those whose research relies on educational theory! 

 

His paper is to be found on the website of the Department of Educational Studies (www.edstud.ox.ac.uk).  It would be useful, but not necessary, if those attending the seminar were to read the paper beforehand.  But Professor Carr will introduce the paper, and I shall give a brief response prior to questions.

 

Wilf Carr is the Professor of Philosophy of Education, Head of the School of Education, and formerly Dean of the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Sheffield.  He is ex-chairman of the Philosophy of Education Society, and editor of Pedagogy, Culture and Society.  His 1986 book with Steve Kemmis Becoming Critical (reprinted ten times) and his 1996 book, For Education, make him the most widely read philosopher of education in the UK.

 

In March (date to be decided) there will be a further seminar on philosophy of education from an Islamic point of view, led by Farid Panjwami from the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London.

 

The Philosophy of Education Society was founded over 25 years ago to ensure that philosophical questions remain central to educational thinking.  The Society’s Annual Conference is held at New College, Oxford – 31^st March to 2^nd April.  Anyone wishing to attend part or all the Conference should contact me.  There are special sessions for student researchers – and special rates.

 

 

Richard Pring