This paper discusses the historical and practical significance of Confucius' educational thought.

As a great educator in ancient China, Confucius accumulated rich teaching experience, created effective teaching methods, summarized and advocated many valuable educational ideas and principles, and formed a relatively complete educational ideological system in the long-term educational practice. His educational experience and principles are the precious legacy of China's traditional educational thought, which still has effective guiding significance for our educational practice.

1. Teach without distinction, and teach tirelessly.

Among Confucius' educational thoughts, the most epoch-making and brilliant thought should be "teaching without distinction". Before Confucius, the aristocratic class monopolized the rights of culture and education, and the civilian class had no possibility of education. Education is limited to the highest ruling class, and the purpose of education is only to train successors for the rulers. The aristocratization of schools hinders the popularization and development of civilization, and also stifles the curiosity of ordinary people.

From the age of 30, Confucius broke the historical convention, founded private schools, and clearly put forward the idea of "teaching without discrimination" (The Analects of Confucius, Wei Linggong). He believes that all mortals can be educated, can do good, should be educated equally, and education cannot be monopolized by nobles. The proposal of this educational thought has opened up a new way for the downward movement of culture and the popularization of education. It is an epoch-making revolutionary pioneering work in the history of Chinese education and a revolutionary breakthrough in the history of human education. The private school founded by Confucius has also become an epoch-making symbol of the "study immigration room" opposite to "official study" in China's educational history.

"Teaching without class" is an important content of Confucius' educational thought and a summary of his lifelong educational practice. He has no distinction between class, rank, region, virtue and stupidity. As long as you study with an open mind and "cultivate yourself (more than ten pieces of dried meat)", you will be educated (The Analects of Confucius). Most of the students enrolled by Confucius were from poor families except Uncle Nangong and Sima Niu.

From the beginning of running a school to his death at the age of 73, Confucius never stopped his beloved education career even during his ten years in politics (as general manager) and traveling around the world. He persevered in overcoming all kinds of difficulties and obstacles, developed private schools, and used his whole life's hard work and life to compose a song of triumph of excellent education, which made great contributions to the history of the Chinese nation and even the whole mankind. According to "Historical Records Confucius Family", "Confucius taught poetry, calligraphy, ceremony and music, and his disciple Gai Qianyan was proficient in six arts, with 70 people." A person spends almost all his adult time on education and has trained so many useful talents, which can really be called tireless teaching.

"Never tire of learning and never tire of teaching" has been praised by people since ancient times, and it is also the main content of Confucius' noble morality. Confucius often asked himself this question. When his students praised him with "holiness" and "benevolence", he said, "If it is holiness and benevolence, how dare I?" If you take pains to suppress it and teach others, it can be said to be a cloud. "Confucius not only tirelessly teaches students, but also does not hide anything, thus winning students' infinite respect and admiration for him. When Confucius died, the students lived in a built house next to the tomb of Confucius, just like their parents died, and they kept their filial piety for three years. Zigong is highly valued by teachers, and the affection between teachers and students is better than that between father and son. He kept the tomb of Confucius for six years. Only with such tireless teachers can such students stay in Shandong for three or six years.

2. Teach students in accordance with their aptitude and follow instructions.

Confucius made many inventions in education and teaching. Even today, more than 2000 years later, some of these ideas still have their real significance. Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude and step by step is one of the most valuable things.

Because Confucius advocated "teaching without distinction" in education policy, he also accepted all students. In this way, there are great differences among students in age, personality, hobbies, intelligence, ability, morality, knowledge base, learning attitude and willpower. Confucius once commented on some students:

Chai is also a fool, he is also a teacher, and he is also a teacher. (The Analects of Confucius)

Return to its ordinary, repeated emptiness; Give orders or not, so what about Huo Zhi? Billions are shameless. (same as above)

This shows his understanding of students. In order to make different students learn things well, he "teaches students in accordance with their aptitude" according to their different characteristics.

Take Confucius' different answers to students' questions about "benevolence" in The Analects of Confucius as an example to illustrate this problem:

Yan Yuan asked Ren. Confucius said, "Self-denial and courtesy are benevolence. On the day of self-denial, the world will return to benevolence. " Treat yourself well, but treat others well? "Yan Yuan said," may I ask its purpose? "Confucius said," see no evil, don't listen to evil, don't say evil, and don't move if you are evil. " ("Yanyuan" Volume 12)

Nakamiya wenren. Confucius said, "When you go out, you will meet the distinguished guests, making the people like big sacrifices. Don't do what you don't want, don't do it in the state, and don't complain at home. " (same as above)

Sima Niu asked Ren. Confucius said, "Benevolent people are confused." He said: "His words are also false. Is it enough to say that he is kind? " Confucius said, "Why is it so difficult?" (same as above)

Ask Ren. Confucius said, "Love." (same as above)

Zhang Ziwen is with Confucius. Confucius said, "It is a benevolent person to be able to do five things for the world." "Excuse me?" Say: "public, tolerant, trustworthy, people, and benefit." Courtesy is not for prisoners, forgiveness is not for people, sincerity is considerate, sensitivity is meritorious, and goodness is enough to make people. "("Yang Huo "volume 17)

Benevolence is the core of Confucius' ethical thought and the highest moral standard in his mind. Five students ask the same question, and Confucius' answer is different according to each person's characteristics. Yan Yuan is Confucius' student who knows his thoughts best, so Confucius' answer to him is profound and abstract, involving the relationship between courtesy and benevolence. Zhong Gong and ran yong were very talented in politics. Confucius thought that he could "make the south" (The Analects of Confucius Yong Ye, meaning that he could be a local governor), so when Zhong Gong asked Ren De, Confucius' answer focused on the political application of Ren De. Sima Niu is "talkative and impetuous" (Biography of Disciples of Zhong Ni in Historical Records). Confucius warned him that kind and virtuous people don't talk much, and their words seem dull, so as to correct his deviation in character. Fan Chi's understanding ability is relatively poor, so Confucius gave him a more specific answer, telling him that benevolence means loving others. Zhang Zi sometimes goes to extremes, and it is easy to go to extremes when doing things. This kind of person is not kind in the process of getting along with others. So when he asked Rende, Confucius spoke in detail and told him how to get along with others.

Look at another example:

Lutz asked, "What did Sven do?" Confucius said, "With my father and brother around, how can I smell and act?" You Ran said, "What will you do when you hear about it?" Confucius said, "Si Wen must do it." Gong Xihua said: "You asked' Steven Zhu Xing' again, and Confucius said:' Father and brother'; Autumn asked again, and Confucius said, "Do it." Red was also confused, and dared to ask Confucius with a big smile: "I retreated after planning, so I entered; Because I am also a person, I retired. " (Advanced Analects of Confucius)

This chapter expounds the principle of Confucius teaching students in accordance with their aptitude. Song Zhuxi commented on this: "Confucius taught students in accordance with their aptitude." The same question was put forward by different students. According to the different personality characteristics of You Ran and Lutz, Confucius improved their moral cultivation and provided a vivid demonstration class for future generations to teach students in accordance with their aptitude.

The characteristic of Confucius' teaching activities is that he can "teach students in accordance with their aptitude" according to their actual situation. According to this principle, he deeply understands students' different interests, wisdom and abilities, grasps everyone's characteristics and gives different education. He divided excellent students into four majors:

Virtue: Yan Yuan, Min Zikai, Ran Boniu, Zhong Gong; Word: slay me, Zigong; Politics: You Ran, Lu Ji; Literature: Freedom in Xia Zi. (Advanced Analects of Confucius)

Confucius taught students in accordance with their aptitude, so his disciples had their own strengths. He divided education into majors and disciplines, which was a pioneering work in the history of education development in China.

In the long-term teaching practice, Confucius explored and summarized how to impart knowledge to achieve better teaching results.

Traditional education pays attention to memory and understanding, so it pays attention to cramming and ignores heuristic guidance in educational methods. It puts students in a passive acceptance position, and can't fully mobilize their enthusiasm and cultivate their creative spirit. This kind of education goes against the nature that people have the ability to create and hope to realize their talents. Over time, students' enthusiasm will be hit and suppressed, and students who can't keep up will lose their confidence and interest in learning, feel that learning is a heavy burden, and even lose the quality of being eager to learn and make progress. In fact, this tendency is quite different from Confucius' educational proposition and practice. "The master is kind and charming. He writes me articles and asks me for gifts, but he can't stop." (The Analects of Confucius Zi Han) This is Yan Hui's personal experience of studying with Confucius for many years. He summed up Confucius' persuasive teaching methods.