柏拉圖的教育哲學對全納教育的啟示及影響

The Inspiration and Influences of Plato’s Educational Philosophy on Inclusive Education

摘 要：柏拉圖提倡因材施教， 全納教育于1994年首次被提出，它提倡提供平等受教育權利并且滿足學生不同的需要.文章旨在分析柏拉圖的教育哲學對全納教育的啟示及影響.

關鍵詞：全納教育，啟示，影響

Abstract: Plato supports teaching students in accordance with their aptitude， and inclusive education since first proposed in 1994 is in favor of providing equal right and satisfying their different needs. This paper aims to analyze the Inspiration and influences that Plato’s theory has on inclusive education.

Key words: inclusive education; inspiration; influences

I. Introduction

Plato is considered to be one of the most important philosophers of all time and has contributed great efforts in thinking and forming a system of ideas which is significant to societies and human beings.Inclusive education is a kind of new educational philosophy which is put forward and advocated first in the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Education in 1994. Indeed， there is something in common between Plato’s educational theory and the inclusive education: education for all. However， to what extent does Plato’s educational theory still have significant meanings upon the present new philosophy of inclusive education?

II. Theoretical Analysis and Interpretation

In terms of Plato’s educational theory， his educational theory is mainly composed of three parts:

1. Education for all. Plato would educate every boy and girl to the limits of their abilities.

2. State education. All children would be taken from the parents and educated by.

3. Aim of education:a. Civil Servants， to produce future servants of the state. b. Rulers， to develop virtuous intellectuals among the future rulers…[1]

By education for all， Plato treated male and female equally and taught students in terms of their aptitude. He divided the learning process into three stages: Elementary (18)， Military training (18-20)， Higher Education (20-35)， and each stage has its own focus. In the first stage， all boys and girls would be educated together until they were eighteen years old. In the second stage， the students would be devoted to physical education， and thereafter the best would be selected to receive higher education. In the last stage， they will prepare to rule the state and begin to study philosophy at the age of thirty. It guarantees every child’s right to education and is trying to meet their needs.

III. Inspiration and Influences

Plato’s theory has significant values on inclusive education， although his theory is a little outdated at present. Inclusive education absorbs his idea of educating all students and expands to those who have special educational needs， aiming to provide those who have special learning needs an equal opportunity to receive education. For example， the Department of Education in New Brunswick has produced a document which states that “the inclusion of students and parents in the planning of curriculum to students with disabilities， and the accommodation of individual strengths and needs.” [2] Under this， it is students who may present their interests and school is responsible for providing and satisfying everyone. Just as stated in the Open File， “if someone can not enjoy the public facilities… this is not the problem of their physical or intelligent disabilities. On the contrary， the public facilities designs are responsible for this and not satisfy everyone’s needs.” [3] Under inclusive education， schools are trying to include the excluded and let everyone study in the regular school together. Furthermore， Plato’s teaching practice can also be found in inclusive education. In inclusive school， every student is considered to have individual characteristics， special needs， and school should try every means to make it come true. An individual education plan is also made in order to satisfy every student’s need. Under such circumstances， every student has access to success and studies the subjects they are interested in.

IV. Conclusion

Plato’s educational theory still occupies an important position in this field， although some of them may not fit the society. His education for all is just confined to the elementary school and his aim of education is a bit outdated. It also has significant influences on inclusive education， which， to some degree， tries to improve and perfect Plato’s theory in terms of the present situation.

Bibliography

[1]Plato， http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/plato.html.

[2]Inclusive Policy and Practice in Education: Best Practices for Students with Disabilities， The Roeher Institute， April， 2004.

[3]Open File on Inclusive Education， UNESCO， p15.